and 2% Black Caribbean. 82.9% of the population in Southcote were born in the UK, and 91.3% speak English as their first language. 1.5% of residents do not speak English well. The life expectancy in Southcote is 77.5 years for males—lower than the national estimate of 78.3—and the expectancy for females (82.6 years) is slightly higher than the national estimate (82.3 years). The census counted Southcote in Reading's labour market, where 75.6% of the population is deemed as economically active. 71.9% of the population are engaged in employment, and 6.5% are classified as unemployed. Out-of-work benefit payments (such as Jobseeker's Allowance, incapacity, lone parent, disability and carer benefits) in Southcote are higher than the Reading average. 80.2% of Southcote's residence evaluate their health as "good", although this is lower than the Reading average of 85.5%. Economy Historically the land at Southcote was used for farming and gravel extraction. Farms such as Calvespit Farm (), Honey End Farm (), Southcote Manor Farm (), and Southcote Farm () were in the area. The 1888 Kelly's Directory lists some residents of Southcote Lane as being employed as coachmen, butlers, gardeners, labourers, florists, dairy farmers, thatchers and carters. One resident was a member of the county police, and Major-General C J Addington resided at Southcote Lodge. An Ordnance Survey map surveyed in the 1870s also identifies a vinery and kennels. The farming and gravel industries declined with the expansion of Reading after the Second World War, though the existence of the anti-extraction groups "Save Southcote Meadows" and "Residents Against Gravel Extraction" (RAGE) in the 1980s suggests the demand for such industry in the area remained. By the mid-1980s, the Tarmac Group reportedly owned land near the site of Southcote Manor with the intent of extracting gravel there. There are two primary centres of economic activity in Southcote—Coronation Square and Southcote Farm Lane. Coronation Square is home to a number of commercial and community premises, including a post office, takeaway food outlets, newsagents, healthcare businesses and a pet shop; as well as a community centre and library. The square also featured a public house until its demolition in 2011; the land was subsequently used for affordable housing. Southcote Farm Lane has a small parade of shops and businesses including a convenience store and hairdressers. On the border of Southcote and Tilehurst is the Meadway Precinct, which includes an Asda supermarket and a Boots pharmacy, as