In 1971, Ossett had a population of just over 17,000 and thirty years later there were 21,000 people living in the town. Located just off junction 40 of the M1 motorway, Ossett’s convenient position has attracted industry and resident commuters working in the major cities of the West Riding. Following three decades of gradual decline, Ossett has seen unprecedented growth in recent years. House prices increased from an average of £50,000 in 1998 to £130,000 in 2003, one of the largest in the U.K. and only rivalled by some parts of London and Cheshire.

In the 1970s, a forty acre site, adjoining the A638 Dewsbury-Wakefield road at Flushdyke, a feeder road off the M1 was zoned for industrial use. Longlands Industrial Estate has attracted many new businesses to the town, providing jobs and increased affluence, although it has to be said, ruining the residential nature of the area. Software company Team 17 were once based in Ossett and their most famous game “Worms” contains a Hell level with a sign saying “Welcome to Ossett”.

One of the reasons for the influx of people to Ossett is the excellent performance of Ossett School and Sixth Form College, a specialist Technology and Sports College, which has some of the best academic results in the area. Ossett School was created in September 1969 when Ossett Grammar School, which was originally founded in 1735, became a comprehensive.

After recent boundary changes, Ossett is now part of the Wakefield constituency. Imran Nasir Ahmad-Khan, born 6th September 1973, was elected as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the Wakefield constituency in the 2019 general election, defeating incumbent Labour MP Mary Creagh, and becoming the first Conservative MP for the constituency in 87 years. He attended Silcoates School in Wakefield then King’s College in London and previously worked for the United Nations as special assistant for political affairs in Mogadishu. In the 2016 Referendum, 66.3 per cent of the Wakefield constituency opted to leave the European Union, compared to 33.6 per cent who wanted to stay in. Within the town, local elections are usually closely contested between the Conservative and Labour Parties.

Ossett has strong sporting traditions with a semi-professional football clubs (Ossett United), Ossett Cricket and Athletics Club, Ossett Rugby Union Club, Ossett Trinity Rugby League Club, Ossett Sports Badminton Club, Low Laithes Golf Club, a Martial Arts Academy and a Pool & Snooker Club. There was an Ossett Football Club in the 1890s, they played in the original West Yorkshire League, but the oldest current football club in Ossett is Ossett Common Rovers, formed in 1910 and currently playing in the modern West Yorkshire League. Other football clubs in Ossett include Ossett Wanderers, Ossett United and Ossett Panthers. Little Bull FC, Ossett Two Brewers and AFC Two Brewers play in the Wakefield & District League.

A thriving market town, Ossett holds a market on Tuesdays and Fridays. There is a Community Centre that hosts local hobby groups, a first-class Public Library and one very crowded central Post Office following the mindless closure of Ossett’s sub-Post Offices in the outlying districts. The Gawthorpe Maypole Feast and Procession has been held each May since 1874.

Under the Local Government Act of 1972, Ossett lost its Borough status in 1974 and became an unparished area in the Metropolitan Borough of Wakefield.