Although the town's heritage was based on industry, the majority of Runcorn's residents now work in the service sector. There is still a strong influence from industry although it is severely diminished from several decades ago.
The town is host to several multinationals and PLCs, such as Ineos Chlor whose factory uses over 1% of the total electricity produced in the UK per year; MFI, ASDA, Tesco and several others.
The town also has a large contingent of local and national government workers. The Department for Work and Pensions DWP was based in Runcorn when it was the Department for Education and Employment DfEE.
Runcorn has several education facilities across all education types. The town also has a large share of Catholic run schools, far higher than the national average.
The town has four high schools. The Grange Comprehensive, The Heath High School, Ormiston Bolingbroke Academy formerly Halton High and the Roman Catholic St Chad's Catholic High School. St Chad's and The Heath are specialist schools, Language and Technology respectively. They are also, respectively, the best-achieving schools in Runcorn.
The town also has a large higher education college, Riverside College, formed from the amalgamation of Runcorn and Widnes Sixth Form College and Halton College. The college, which has strong links with several universities in the region and with the ability to award it's own degrees, is tipped as a prime candidate for becoming a university college within the next 10 years. However it has a poor reputation, with the last Ofsted report rating the college's teaching and results as 'Inadequate', equivalent to one star and a decline from the previous 'Satisfactory' result, which it received prior to its amalgamation.
Runcorn's shopping facilities are of a poor quality and not worthy of travelling from far away unless you intend to visit Halton Lea as a tourist attraction.
Entertainment-wise though, Halton Borough Council has been unable to coerce the majority of companies over to Widnes. Runcorn plays host to Halton's only multiplex cinema, Cineworld, in Trident Park beside Halton Lea.
Runcorn's nightlife is extremely poor, although it is improving. After decades of under-investment and a reputation that was often well deserved that any night in Runcorn would involve yourself in at least one fight, the town is seeing a lift in fortunes. The town is improving gradually with higher class bars and pubs opening over the next few years but until a nightclub opens unfettered, Runcorn will continue to have a poor nightlife.