 The economic activity of residents aged 16 – 74 was 43 @.@ 2 % in full @-@ time employment , 12 @.@ 3 % in part @-@ time employment , 6 @.@ 1 % self @-@ employed , 3 @.@ 8 % unemployed , 1 @.@ 3 % students with jobs , 2 @.@ 3 % students without jobs , 13 @.@ 5 % retired , 7 @.@ 3 % looking after home or family , 6 @.@ 9 % permanently sick or disabled and 3 @.@ 3 % economically inactive for other reasons . The percentage of people in full @-@ time employment was significantly higher than the 39 @.@ 1 % average for the whole of the Walsall district . Of the town 's residents aged 16 – 74 , 8 @.@ 5 % had a higher education qualification or the equivalent , compared with 19 @.@ 9 % nationwide . According to Office for National Statistics estimates , during the period of April 2001 to March 2002 the average gross weekly income of households in the Brownhills area was £ 460 ( £ 23 @,@ 920 per year ) . 
