It includes the industrial town of Paisley and surrounding towns but the west of the region is more rural in character. Paisley is the economic centre of the region, with Glasgow airport and the large Hillington industrial estate also providing jobs.
Most jobs are in the light industrial sector.
Like most of central Scotland, Labour is the dominant party here. They hold all three parliamentary seats covered by the region, and have control of the council. The SNP are the second party with a sizeable group on the council.