The Datum Report

ITL1 region

East (England)

What we think is happening

The job market in East (England) has been weakening.

deteriorating · strong confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

By subject

Every figure published for East (England). Open a subject to see them, each with its history and its source. Where a producer splits the area into many categories, those sit behind a further disclosure.

Labour market 11
9.9%
9.210.311.32020-03-31: 11.12020-06-30: 10.92020-09-30: 10.72020-12-31: 10.42021-09-30: 10.32021-12-31: 9.92022-03-31: 9.82022-06-30: 9.42022-09-30: 9.42023-03-31: 9.82025-06-30: 9.72025-12-31: 9.72026-03-31: 9.9 2020-03 2026-03
13 monthly readings · 9.4 to 11.1 · axis starts at 9.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.7, basis not documented by the producer
12 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
78.3%
75.977.479.02020-03-31: 78.02020-06-30: 78.12020-09-30: 78.12020-12-31: 77.12021-03-31: 76.92021-06-30: 76.92021-09-30: 77.22021-12-31: 77.92022-03-31: 78.02022-06-30: 77.92022-09-30: 78.42022-12-31: 78.32023-03-31: 78.02023-06-30: 78.22023-09-30: 77.72023-12-31: 77.52024-03-31: 77.12024-06-30: 76.22024-09-30: 76.52024-12-31: 77.32025-03-31: 78.02025-06-30: 78.72025-09-30: 78.62025-12-31: 78.42026-03-31: 78.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 76.2 to 78.7 · axis starts at 75.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.9, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
4.0%
4.04.04.12025-12-31: 4.12026-03-31: 4 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 4 to 4.1 · axis starts at 4.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.5, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

18.4%
17.819.621.32020-03-31: 19.42020-06-30: 19.02020-09-30: 18.82020-12-31: 19.62021-03-31: 19.42021-06-30: 19.52021-09-30: 19.52021-12-31: 18.92022-03-31: 19.22022-06-30: 19.72022-09-30: 19.32022-12-31: 19.42023-03-31: 19.52023-06-30: 18.92023-09-30: 19.22023-12-31: 19.52024-03-31: 19.92024-06-30: 20.92024-09-30: 20.72024-12-31: 19.82025-03-31: 19.02025-06-30: 18.42025-09-30: 18.22025-12-31: 18.22026-03-31: 18.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18.2 to 20.9 · axis starts at 17.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±0.9, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
132,125
127k130k133k2026-01-31: 128k2026-02-28: 132k2026-03-31: 132k2026-04-30: 131k2026-05-31: 130k2026-06-30: 130k2026-07-31: 129k2026-08-31: 132k 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 128k to 132k · axis starts at 127k

ONS / DWP, Claimant count by sex and age, published 15 September 2026
72 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

3.3%
3.23.23.32026-01-31: 3.22026-02-28: 3.32026-03-31: 3.32026-04-30: 3.22026-05-31: 3.22026-06-30: 3.22026-07-31: 3.22026-08-31: 3.3 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.2 to 3.3 · axis starts at 3.2

ONS / DWP, Claimant count by sex and age, published 15 September 2026
72 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

% of economically inactive 5
0.2%
0.20.20.22025-12-31: 0.22026-03-31: 0.2 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · unchanged at 0.2 · axis starts at 0.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

26.4%
24.725.626.62025-12-31: 24.92026-03-31: 26.4 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 24.9 to 26.4 · axis starts at 24.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.2, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

19.3%
19.219.620.02025-12-31: 19.92026-03-31: 19.3 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 19.3 to 19.9 · axis starts at 19.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.0, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

15.2%
15.115.616.12025-12-31: 162026-03-31: 15.2 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 15.2 to 16 · axis starts at 15.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.8, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

24.1%
24.024.124.12025-12-31: 242026-03-31: 24.1 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 24 to 24.1 · axis starts at 24.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.2, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£26,795
9,31719k29k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 14k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 16k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 17k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 18k2014-12-31: 19k2015-12-31: 20k2016-12-31: 20k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 22k2020-12-31: 22k2021-12-31: 23k2022-12-31: 24k2023-12-31: 25k2024-12-31: 27k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 27k · axis starts at 9,317

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,706
1,7582,2832,8082020-01-31: 1,8922020-02-29: 1,9022020-03-31: 1,9082020-04-30: 1,8602020-05-31: 1,8672020-06-30: 1,8912020-07-31: 1,9202020-08-31: 1,9432020-09-30: 1,9662020-10-31: 1,9782020-11-30: 1,9892020-12-31: 2,0202021-01-31: 1,9842021-02-28: 1,9872021-03-31: 2,0262021-04-30: 2,0292021-05-31: 2,0292021-06-30: 2,0432021-07-31: 2,0432021-08-31: 2,0502021-09-30: 2,0802021-10-31: 2,0872021-11-30: 2,1012021-12-31: 2,1292022-01-31: 2,1042022-02-28: 2,1072022-03-31: 2,1342022-04-30: 2,1392022-05-31: 2,1562022-06-30: 2,1692022-07-31: 2,1702022-08-31: 2,1832022-09-30: 2,2252022-10-31: 2,2252022-11-30: 2,2742022-12-31: 2,2882023-01-31: 2,2462023-02-28: 2,2492023-03-31: 2,2822023-04-30: 2,2922023-05-31: 2,3312023-06-30: 2,3742023-07-31: 2,3272023-08-31: 2,3332023-09-30: 2,3462023-10-31: 2,3572023-11-30: 2,3992023-12-31: 2,4172024-01-31: 2,3742024-02-29: 2,3792024-03-31: 2,4132024-04-30: 2,4332024-05-31: 2,4512024-06-30: 2,4452024-07-31: 2,4502024-08-31: 2,4602024-09-30: 2,4772024-10-31: 2,5362024-11-30: 2,5372024-12-31: 2,5372025-01-31: 2,5162025-02-28: 2,5162025-03-31: 2,5372025-04-30: 2,5662025-05-31: 2,5782025-06-30: 2,5742025-07-31: 2,5862025-08-31: 2,6172025-09-30: 2,6132025-10-31: 2,6212025-11-30: 2,6212025-12-31: 2,6522026-01-31: 2,6232026-02-28: 2,6272026-03-31: 2,6602026-04-30: 2,6912026-05-31: 2,7002026-06-30: 2,7062026-07-31: 2,706 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,860 to 2,706 · axis starts at 1,758

ONS, Earnings and employment from PAYE Real Time Information, published 22 August 2026 (approximate)

2,914,752
2.7m2.8m3.0m2020-01-31: 2.8m2020-02-29: 2.8m2020-03-31: 2.8m2020-04-30: 2.7m2020-05-31: 2.7m2020-06-30: 2.7m2020-07-31: 2.7m2020-08-31: 2.7m2020-09-30: 2.7m2020-10-31: 2.7m2020-11-30: 2.7m2020-12-31: 2.7m2021-01-31: 2.7m2021-02-28: 2.7m2021-03-31: 2.7m2021-04-30: 2.7m2021-05-31: 2.7m2021-06-30: 2.8m2021-07-31: 2.8m2021-08-31: 2.8m2021-09-30: 2.8m2021-10-31: 2.8m2021-11-30: 2.8m2021-12-31: 2.8m2022-01-31: 2.8m2022-02-28: 2.8m2022-03-31: 2.8m2022-04-30: 2.8m2022-05-31: 2.8m2022-06-30: 2.8m2022-07-31: 2.8m2022-08-31: 2.8m2022-09-30: 2.9m2022-10-31: 2.9m2022-11-30: 2.9m2022-12-31: 2.9m2023-01-31: 2.8m2023-02-28: 2.9m2023-03-31: 2.9m2023-04-30: 2.9m2023-05-31: 2.9m2023-06-30: 2.9m2023-07-31: 2.9m2023-08-31: 2.9m2023-09-30: 2.9m2023-10-31: 2.9m2023-11-30: 2.9m2023-12-31: 2.9m2024-01-31: 2.9m2024-02-29: 2.9m2024-03-31: 2.9m2024-04-30: 2.9m2024-05-31: 2.9m2024-06-30: 2.9m2024-07-31: 2.9m2024-08-31: 2.9m2024-09-30: 2.9m2024-10-31: 2.9m2024-11-30: 2.9m2024-12-31: 2.9m2025-01-31: 2.9m2025-02-28: 2.9m2025-03-31: 2.9m2025-04-30: 2.9m2025-05-31: 2.9m2025-06-30: 2.9m2025-07-31: 2.9m2025-08-31: 2.9m2025-09-30: 2.9m2025-10-31: 2.9m2025-11-30: 2.9m2025-12-31: 2.9m2026-01-31: 2.9m2026-02-28: 2.9m2026-03-31: 2.9m2026-04-30: 2.9m2026-05-31: 2.9m2026-06-30: 2.9m2026-07-31: 2.9m 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 2.7m to 2.9m · axis starts at 2.7m

ONS, Earnings and employment from PAYE Real Time Information, published 22 August 2026 (approximate)

Business 12
Businesses
2026
276,725
271k274k277k2025-03-31: 271k2026-03-31: 277k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 271k to 277k · axis starts at 271k

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises, published 24 September 2026
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

218,770
214k217k219k2025-03-31: 214k2026-03-31: 219k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 214k to 219k · axis starts at 214k

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

15,055
15k15k15k2025-03-31: 15k2026-03-31: 15k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 15k to 15k · axis starts at 15k

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

1,365
1,3631,3751,3872025-03-31: 1,3852026-03-31: 1,365 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 1,365 to 1,385 · axis starts at 1,363

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

265
2362552742010-03-31: 2552011-03-31: 2402012-03-31: 2452013-03-31: 2402014-03-31: 2402015-03-31: 2552016-03-31: 2452017-03-31: 2402018-03-31: 2502019-03-31: 2702020-03-31: 2602021-03-31: 2702022-03-31: 2552023-03-31: 2552024-03-31: 2502025-03-31: 2652026-03-31: 265 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 240 to 270 · axis starts at 236

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

8,120
8,0368,0828,1292025-03-31: 8,0452026-03-31: 8,120 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 8,045 to 8,120 · axis starts at 8,036

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

485
4634754872025-03-31: 4652026-03-31: 485 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 465 to 485 · axis starts at 463

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

29,535
29k29k30k2025-03-31: 29k2026-03-31: 30k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 29k to 30k · axis starts at 29k

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

2,870
2,7802,8302,8802025-03-31: 2,7902026-03-31: 2,870 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 2,790 to 2,870 · axis starts at 2,780

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

255
1372052732010-03-31: 1852011-03-31: 1752012-03-31: 1652013-03-31: 1502014-03-31: 1952015-03-31: 2052016-03-31: 2302017-03-31: 2352018-03-31: 2552019-03-31: 2452020-03-31: 2252021-03-31: 1852022-03-31: 2252023-03-31: 2352024-03-31: 2452025-03-31: 2602026-03-31: 255 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 150 to 260 · axis starts at 137

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

315,875
310k313k317k2025-03-31: 311k2026-03-31: 316k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 311k to 316k · axis starts at 310k

ONS, UK Business Counts - local units, published 24 September 2026
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

205,310
62k141k221k1998-12-31: 78k1999-12-31: 81k2000-12-31: 85k2001-12-31: 89k2002-12-31: 93k2003-12-31: 99k2004-12-31: 102k2005-12-31: 108k2006-12-31: 113k2007-12-31: 117k2008-12-31: 122k2009-12-31: 119k2010-12-31: 120k2011-12-31: 121k2012-12-31: 125k2013-12-31: 130k2014-12-31: 137k2015-12-31: 142k2016-12-31: 148k2017-12-31: 158k2018-12-31: 162k2019-12-31: 169k2020-12-31: 160k2021-12-31: 174k2022-12-31: 188k2023-12-31: 205k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 78k to 205k · axis starts at 62k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in East (England)

Babergh · Basildon · Bedford · Braintree · Breckland · Brentwood · Broadland · Broxbourne · Cambridge · Castle Point · Central Bedfordshire · Chelmsford · Colchester · Dacorum · East Cambridgeshire · East Hertfordshire · East Suffolk · Epping Forest · Fenland · Great Yarmouth · Harlow · Hertsmere · Huntingdonshire · Ipswich · King's Lynn and West Norfolk · Luton · Maldon · Mid Suffolk · North Hertfordshire · North Norfolk · Norwich · Peterborough · Rochford · South Cambridgeshire · South Norfolk · Southend-on-Sea · St Albans · Stevenage · Tendring · Three Rivers · Thurrock · Uttlesford · Watford · Welwyn Hatfield · West Suffolk