The Datum Report

ITL1 region

North West (England)

What we think is happening

The job market in North West (England) has been weakening.

deteriorating · strong confidence · formed 5 October 2026 · how we reached this

By subject

Every figure published for North West (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
8.3%
7.28.710.22020-03-31: 9.82020-06-30: 9.92020-09-30: 9.42020-12-31: 9.02021-03-31: 8.52021-09-30: 8.32024-12-31: 7.52025-03-31: 8.02025-06-30: 8.22025-09-30: 8.62025-12-31: 8.72026-03-31: 8.3 2020-03 2026-03
12 monthly readings · 7.5 to 9.9 · axis starts at 7.2

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

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
73.8%
72.573.875.12020-03-31: 74.92020-06-30: 74.82020-09-30: 74.12020-12-31: 74.02021-03-31: 73.22021-06-30: 73.22021-09-30: 73.32021-12-31: 72.92022-03-31: 73.12022-06-30: 73.32022-09-30: 73.02022-12-31: 73.52023-03-31: 73.62023-06-30: 73.82023-09-30: 74.42023-12-31: 73.72024-03-31: 73.32024-06-30: 72.82024-09-30: 73.02024-12-31: 73.22025-03-31: 73.72025-06-30: 74.12025-09-30: 74.22025-12-31: 742026-03-31: 73.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.8 to 74.9 · axis starts at 72.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.8, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
4.4%
4.34.34.42025-12-31: 4.32026-03-31: 4.4 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 4.3 to 4.4 · axis starts at 4.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.4, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

22.7%
21.722.924.02020-03-31: 21.92020-06-30: 22.12020-09-30: 22.62020-12-31: 22.62021-03-31: 23.12021-06-30: 23.02021-09-30: 23.02021-12-31: 23.52022-03-31: 23.52022-06-30: 23.52022-09-30: 23.72022-12-31: 23.32023-03-31: 23.52023-06-30: 23.22023-09-30: 22.82023-12-31: 23.32024-03-31: 23.22024-06-30: 23.72024-09-30: 23.82024-12-31: 23.62025-03-31: 23.32025-06-30: 22.72025-09-30: 22.52025-12-31: 22.72026-03-31: 22.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 21.9 to 23.8 · axis starts at 21.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±0.8, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
201,555
191k197k203k2026-01-31: 192k2026-02-28: 198k2026-03-31: 200k2026-04-30: 199k2026-05-31: 199k2026-06-30: 198k2026-07-31: 197k2026-08-31: 202k 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 192k to 202k · axis starts at 191k

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

4.2%
4.04.14.22026-01-31: 42026-02-28: 4.12026-03-31: 4.12026-04-30: 4.12026-05-31: 4.12026-06-30: 4.12026-07-31: 4.12026-08-31: 4.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 4 to 4.2 · axis starts at 4.0

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
0.5%
0.50.50.62025-12-31: 0.52026-03-31: 0.5 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · unchanged at 0.5 · axis starts at 0.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±0.3, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

34.5%
33.834.234.62025-12-31: 33.92026-03-31: 34.5 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 33.9 to 34.5 · axis starts at 33.8

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.

17.0%
16.216.617.12025-12-31: 16.32026-03-31: 17 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 16.3 to 17 · axis starts at 16.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.4, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

11.6%
11.611.711.82025-12-31: 11.82026-03-31: 11.6 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 11.6 to 11.8 · axis starts at 11.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.2, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

23.9%
23.92424.12025-12-31: 24.12026-03-31: 23.9 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 23.9 to 24.1 · axis starts at 23.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.6, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£22,523
8,06616k24k1997-12-31: 9,6151998-12-31: 9,7571999-12-31: 10k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 14k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 15k2012-12-31: 15k2013-12-31: 15k2014-12-31: 16k2015-12-31: 17k2016-12-31: 17k2017-12-31: 17k2018-12-31: 18k2019-12-31: 18k2020-12-31: 18k2021-12-31: 19k2022-12-31: 20k2023-12-31: 21k2024-12-31: 23k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,615 to 23k · axis starts at 8,066

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,537
1,6112,1242,6362020-01-31: 1,7352020-02-29: 1,7442020-03-31: 1,7412020-04-30: 1,7102020-05-31: 1,7232020-06-30: 1,7422020-07-31: 1,7742020-08-31: 1,7882020-09-30: 1,8112020-10-31: 1,8182020-11-30: 1,8212020-12-31: 1,8472021-01-31: 1,8142021-02-28: 1,8192021-03-31: 1,8422021-04-30: 1,8582021-05-31: 1,8602021-06-30: 1,8612021-07-31: 1,8642021-08-31: 1,8742021-09-30: 1,9032021-10-31: 1,8972021-11-30: 1,9032021-12-31: 1,9302022-01-31: 1,9072022-02-28: 1,9222022-03-31: 1,9552022-04-30: 1,9662022-05-31: 1,9782022-06-30: 1,9852022-07-31: 1,9892022-08-31: 2,0052022-09-30: 2,0462022-10-31: 2,0422022-11-30: 2,0952022-12-31: 2,0972023-01-31: 2,0572023-02-28: 2,0572023-03-31: 2,0872023-04-30: 2,1162023-05-31: 2,1522023-06-30: 2,1992023-07-31: 2,1562023-08-31: 2,1572023-09-30: 2,1692023-10-31: 2,1762023-11-30: 2,2242023-12-31: 2,2432024-01-31: 2,1952024-02-29: 2,1982024-03-31: 2,2282024-04-30: 2,2722024-05-31: 2,2872024-06-30: 2,2842024-07-31: 2,2872024-08-31: 2,2972024-09-30: 2,3032024-10-31: 2,3682024-11-30: 2,3752024-12-31: 2,3682025-01-31: 2,3362025-02-28: 2,3412025-03-31: 2,3652025-04-30: 2,4022025-05-31: 2,4152025-06-30: 2,4142025-07-31: 2,4272025-08-31: 2,4612025-09-30: 2,4472025-10-31: 2,4492025-11-30: 2,4522025-12-31: 2,4842026-01-31: 2,4532026-02-28: 2,4572026-03-31: 2,4862026-04-30: 2,5262026-05-31: 2,5362026-06-30: 2,5372026-07-31: 2,537 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,710 to 2,537 · axis starts at 1,611

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

3,321,971
3.0m3.2m3.4m2020-01-31: 3.1m2020-02-29: 3.1m2020-03-31: 3.1m2020-04-30: 3.1m2020-05-31: 3.1m2020-06-30: 3.1m2020-07-31: 3.1m2020-08-31: 3.1m2020-09-30: 3.1m2020-10-31: 3.1m2020-11-30: 3.1m2020-12-31: 3.1m2021-01-31: 3.1m2021-02-28: 3.1m2021-03-31: 3.1m2021-04-30: 3.1m2021-05-31: 3.1m2021-06-30: 3.1m2021-07-31: 3.2m2021-08-31: 3.2m2021-09-30: 3.2m2021-10-31: 3.2m2021-11-30: 3.2m2021-12-31: 3.2m2022-01-31: 3.2m2022-02-28: 3.2m2022-03-31: 3.2m2022-04-30: 3.2m2022-05-31: 3.2m2022-06-30: 3.2m2022-07-31: 3.2m2022-08-31: 3.2m2022-09-30: 3.3m2022-10-31: 3.3m2022-11-30: 3.3m2022-12-31: 3.3m2023-01-31: 3.3m2023-02-28: 3.3m2023-03-31: 3.3m2023-04-30: 3.3m2023-05-31: 3.3m2023-06-30: 3.3m2023-07-31: 3.3m2023-08-31: 3.3m2023-09-30: 3.3m2023-10-31: 3.3m2023-11-30: 3.3m2023-12-31: 3.3m2024-01-31: 3.3m2024-02-29: 3.3m2024-03-31: 3.3m2024-04-30: 3.3m2024-05-31: 3.3m2024-06-30: 3.3m2024-07-31: 3.3m2024-08-31: 3.3m2024-09-30: 3.3m2024-10-31: 3.3m2024-11-30: 3.4m2024-12-31: 3.3m2025-01-31: 3.3m2025-02-28: 3.3m2025-03-31: 3.3m2025-04-30: 3.3m2025-05-31: 3.3m2025-06-30: 3.3m2025-07-31: 3.3m2025-08-31: 3.3m2025-09-30: 3.3m2025-10-31: 3.3m2025-11-30: 3.3m2025-12-31: 3.3m2026-01-31: 3.3m2026-02-28: 3.3m2026-03-31: 3.3m2026-04-30: 3.3m2026-05-31: 3.3m2026-06-30: 3.3m2026-07-31: 3.3m 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 3.1m to 3.4m · axis starts at 3.0m

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

Business 12
Businesses
2026
272,085
265k269k273k2025-03-31: 266k2026-03-31: 272k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 266k to 272k · axis starts at 265k

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

209,545
204k207k210k2025-03-31: 205k2026-03-31: 210k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 205k to 210k · axis starts at 204k

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

16,515
16k16k17k2025-03-31: 16k2026-03-31: 17k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 16k to 17k · axis starts at 16k

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

1,510
1,5061,5251,5442025-03-31: 1,5402026-03-31: 1,510 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 1,510 to 1,540 · axis starts at 1,506

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

315
2312783242010-03-31: 2502011-03-31: 2402012-03-31: 2402013-03-31: 2402014-03-31: 2402015-03-31: 2502016-03-31: 2502017-03-31: 2552018-03-31: 2552019-03-31: 2452020-03-31: 2502021-03-31: 2502022-03-31: 2802023-03-31: 3052024-03-31: 3052025-03-31: 3002026-03-31: 315 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 240 to 315 · axis starts at 231

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

9,115
9,0259,0759,1252025-03-31: 9,0352026-03-31: 9,115 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 9,035 to 9,115 · axis starts at 9,025

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

575
5535655772025-03-31: 5552026-03-31: 575 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 555 to 575 · axis starts at 553

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

31,050
30k31k31k2025-03-31: 30k2026-03-31: 31k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 30k to 31k · axis starts at 30k

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

3,150
3,0493,1053,1612025-03-31: 3,0602026-03-31: 3,150 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 3,060 to 3,150 · axis starts at 3,049

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

315
1812553292010-03-31: 2202011-03-31: 2102012-03-31: 2102013-03-31: 2102014-03-31: 1952015-03-31: 2252016-03-31: 2402017-03-31: 2402018-03-31: 2602019-03-31: 2702020-03-31: 2752021-03-31: 2902022-03-31: 2802023-03-31: 2902024-03-31: 2902025-03-31: 3052026-03-31: 315 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 195 to 315 · axis starts at 181

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

319,345
313k316k320k2025-03-31: 313k2026-03-31: 319k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 313k to 319k · axis starts at 313k

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

243,386
69k166k262k1998-12-31: 88k1999-12-31: 92k2000-12-31: 95k2001-12-31: 101k2002-12-31: 105k2003-12-31: 111k2004-12-31: 117k2005-12-31: 123k2006-12-31: 130k2007-12-31: 135k2008-12-31: 138k2009-12-31: 138k2010-12-31: 140k2011-12-31: 141k2012-12-31: 146k2013-12-31: 151k2014-12-31: 157k2015-12-31: 163k2016-12-31: 169k2017-12-31: 177k2018-12-31: 181k2019-12-31: 190k2020-12-31: 186k2021-12-31: 199k2022-12-31: 222k2023-12-31: 243k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 88k to 243k · axis starts at 69k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in North West (England)

Blackburn with Darwen · Blackpool · Bolton · Burnley · Bury · Cheshire East · Cheshire West and Chester · Chorley · Cumberland · Fylde · Halton · Hyndburn · Knowsley · Lancaster · Liverpool · Manchester · Oldham · Pendle · Preston · Ribble Valley · Rochdale · Rossendale · Salford · Sefton · South Ribble · St. Helens · Stockport · Tameside · Trafford · Warrington · West Lancashire · Westmorland and Furness · Wigan · Wirral · Wyre