The Datum Report

ITL1 region

Scotland

What we think is happening

Pay in Scotland has been growing.

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

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in Scotland has been weakening.

established confidence · how we reached this

What is distinctive here

These moved unusually against comparable areas, and did not simply move with them. A change shared with everywhere else is a fact about the country, not this place.

MeasurePeriodValueChangeAgainst peers
Claimant count August 2026 112,215 +3,690 in the top 9% of 12

By subject

Every figure published for Scotland. 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
7.5%
7.38.18.92020-03-31: 8.82020-06-30: 8.62020-09-30: 8.32020-12-31: 7.92021-03-31: 7.72025-12-31: 7.82026-03-31: 7.5 2020-03 2026-03
7 monthly readings · 7.5 to 8.8 · axis starts at 7.3

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

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
74.6%
71.873.675.42020-03-31: 74.42020-06-30: 74.12020-09-30: 73.72020-12-31: 73.32021-03-31: 72.72021-06-30: 72.12021-09-30: 72.72021-12-31: 73.02022-03-31: 73.72022-06-30: 74.32022-09-30: 74.42022-12-31: 74.42023-03-31: 74.62023-06-30: 74.82023-09-30: 75.12023-12-31: 74.72024-03-31: 74.12024-06-30: 74.22024-09-30: 73.62024-12-31: 74.02025-03-31: 73.82025-06-30: 74.02025-09-30: 74.22025-12-31: 74.72026-03-31: 74.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.1 to 75.1 · axis starts at 71.8

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
4.1%
3.83.94.12025-12-31: 3.82026-03-31: 4.1 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 3.8 to 4.1 · axis starts at 3.8

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.

22.3%
22.023.224.42020-03-31: 23.02020-06-30: 23.22020-09-30: 23.42020-12-31: 23.32021-03-31: 23.62021-06-30: 24.22021-09-30: 24.02021-12-31: 23.92022-03-31: 23.72022-06-30: 23.02022-09-30: 22.92022-12-31: 23.02023-03-31: 22.72023-06-30: 22.72023-09-30: 22.32023-12-31: 22.62024-03-31: 23.02025-12-31: 22.32026-03-31: 22.3 2020-03 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 22.3 to 24.2 · axis starts at 22.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±0.8, basis not documented by the producer
6 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Claimant count
August 2026
112,215
102k108k113k2026-01-31: 103k2026-02-28: 108k2026-03-31: 109k2026-04-30: 109k2026-05-31: 108k2026-06-30: 108k2026-07-31: 109k2026-08-31: 112k 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 103k to 112k · axis starts at 102k

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

3.2%
2.93.03.22026-01-31: 2.92026-02-28: 3.12026-03-31: 3.12026-04-30: 3.12026-05-31: 3.12026-06-30: 3.12026-07-31: 3.12026-08-31: 3.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.9 to 3.2 · axis starts at 2.9

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
0.4%
0.40.40.42025-12-31: 0.42026-03-31: 0.4 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · unchanged at 0.4 · axis starts at 0.4

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

34.2%
34.134.534.82025-12-31: 34.72026-03-31: 34.2 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 34.2 to 34.7 · axis starts at 34.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.9, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

14.5%
14.414.815.12025-12-31: 152026-03-31: 14.5 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 14.5 to 15 · axis starts at 14.4

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.

15.7%
14.715.215.82025-12-31: 14.82026-03-31: 15.7 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 14.8 to 15.7 · axis starts at 14.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.5, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

23.2%
23.023.123.22025-12-31: 232026-03-31: 23.2 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 23 to 23.2 · axis starts at 23.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.7, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£24,283
7,80817k26k1997-12-31: 9,5731998-12-31: 9,7941999-12-31: 10k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 12k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 13k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 14k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 15k2009-12-31: 15k2010-12-31: 15k2011-12-31: 16k2012-12-31: 16k2013-12-31: 17k2014-12-31: 17k2015-12-31: 18k2016-12-31: 18k2017-12-31: 18k2018-12-31: 19k2019-12-31: 19k2020-12-31: 19k2021-12-31: 20k2022-12-31: 21k2023-12-31: 23k2024-12-31: 24k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,573 to 24k · axis starts at 7,808

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,683
1,7272,2562,7852020-01-31: 1,8612020-02-29: 1,8672020-03-31: 1,8672020-04-30: 1,8292020-05-31: 1,8392020-06-30: 1,8542020-07-31: 1,8952020-08-31: 1,9112020-09-30: 1,9282020-10-31: 1,9432020-11-30: 1,9432020-12-31: 1,9812021-01-31: 1,9522021-02-28: 1,9732021-03-31: 1,9722021-04-30: 2,0112021-05-31: 2,0072021-06-30: 2,0042021-07-31: 2,0122021-08-31: 2,0262021-09-30: 2,0152021-10-31: 2,0372021-11-30: 2,0402021-12-31: 2,1012022-01-31: 2,0822022-02-28: 2,0612022-03-31: 2,0682022-04-30: 2,0912022-05-31: 2,1002022-06-30: 2,1142022-07-31: 2,1202022-08-31: 2,1182022-09-30: 2,1342022-10-31: 2,1632022-11-30: 2,2372022-12-31: 2,2362023-01-31: 2,2172023-02-28: 2,2562023-03-31: 2,2372023-04-30: 2,2922023-05-31: 2,2772023-06-30: 2,2932023-07-31: 2,2902023-08-31: 2,2962023-09-30: 2,3112023-10-31: 2,3172023-11-30: 2,3762023-12-31: 2,4022024-01-31: 2,3452024-02-29: 2,3492024-03-31: 2,3782024-04-30: 2,4012024-05-31: 2,4152024-06-30: 2,4162024-07-31: 2,4212024-08-31: 2,4242024-09-30: 2,4322024-10-31: 2,4842024-11-30: 2,5512024-12-31: 2,5142025-01-31: 2,4752025-02-28: 2,4932025-03-31: 2,5102025-04-30: 2,5312025-05-31: 2,5372025-06-30: 2,5502025-07-31: 2,5712025-08-31: 2,5802025-09-30: 2,5812025-10-31: 2,5842025-11-30: 2,5852025-12-31: 2,6262026-01-31: 2,5922026-02-28: 2,5992026-03-31: 2,6242026-04-30: 2,6672026-05-31: 2,6722026-06-30: 2,6762026-07-31: 2,683 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,829 to 2,683 · axis starts at 1,727

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

2,455,508
2.3m2.4m2.5m2020-01-31: 2.4m2020-02-29: 2.4m2020-03-31: 2.4m2020-04-30: 2.4m2020-05-31: 2.3m2020-06-30: 2.3m2020-07-31: 2.3m2020-08-31: 2.3m2020-09-30: 2.3m2020-10-31: 2.3m2020-11-30: 2.3m2020-12-31: 2.3m2021-01-31: 2.3m2021-02-28: 2.3m2021-03-31: 2.3m2021-04-30: 2.3m2021-05-31: 2.3m2021-06-30: 2.4m2021-07-31: 2.4m2021-08-31: 2.4m2021-09-30: 2.4m2021-10-31: 2.4m2021-11-30: 2.4m2021-12-31: 2.4m2022-01-31: 2.4m2022-02-28: 2.4m2022-03-31: 2.4m2022-04-30: 2.4m2022-05-31: 2.4m2022-06-30: 2.4m2022-07-31: 2.4m2022-08-31: 2.4m2022-09-30: 2.4m2022-10-31: 2.4m2022-11-30: 2.5m2022-12-31: 2.4m2023-01-31: 2.4m2023-02-28: 2.4m2023-03-31: 2.4m2023-04-30: 2.4m2023-05-31: 2.5m2023-06-30: 2.5m2023-07-31: 2.5m2023-08-31: 2.5m2023-09-30: 2.5m2023-10-31: 2.5m2023-11-30: 2.5m2023-12-31: 2.5m2024-01-31: 2.4m2024-02-29: 2.5m2024-03-31: 2.5m2024-04-30: 2.5m2024-05-31: 2.5m2024-06-30: 2.5m2024-07-31: 2.5m2024-08-31: 2.5m2024-09-30: 2.5m2024-10-31: 2.5m2024-11-30: 2.5m2024-12-31: 2.4m2025-01-31: 2.4m2025-02-28: 2.4m2025-03-31: 2.4m2025-04-30: 2.4m2025-05-31: 2.5m2025-06-30: 2.5m2025-07-31: 2.5m2025-08-31: 2.5m2025-09-30: 2.5m2025-10-31: 2.5m2025-11-30: 2.5m2025-12-31: 2.4m2026-01-31: 2.4m2026-02-28: 2.4m2026-03-31: 2.4m2026-04-30: 2.4m2026-05-31: 2.4m2026-06-30: 2.5m2026-07-31: 2.5m 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 2.3m to 2.5m · axis starts at 2.3m

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

Business 12
Businesses
2026
176,000
173k175k176k2025-03-31: 173k2026-03-31: 176k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 173k to 176k · axis starts at 173k

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

131,230
129k130k132k2025-03-31: 129k2026-03-31: 131k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 129k to 131k · axis starts at 129k

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

12,535
12k12k13k2025-03-31: 12k2026-03-31: 13k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 12k to 13k · axis starts at 12k

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

1,000
9949981,0012025-03-31: 9952026-03-31: 1,000 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 995 to 1,000 · axis starts at 994

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

205
1381752122010-03-31: 1652011-03-31: 1452012-03-31: 1652013-03-31: 1552014-03-31: 1552015-03-31: 1702016-03-31: 1702017-03-31: 1702018-03-31: 1902019-03-31: 1902020-03-31: 1952021-03-31: 1952022-03-31: 1802023-03-31: 1802024-03-31: 1802025-03-31: 2052026-03-31: 205 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 145 to 205 · axis starts at 138

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

5,715
5,7005,7785,8552025-03-31: 5,8402026-03-31: 5,715 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 5,715 to 5,840 · axis starts at 5,700

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

340
3063403742025-03-31: 3402026-03-31: 340 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · unchanged at 340 · axis starts at 306

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

22,890
23k23k23k2025-03-31: 23k2026-03-31: 23k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 23k to 23k · axis starts at 23k

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

1,920
1,8811,9021,9242025-03-31: 1,8852026-03-31: 1,920 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 1,885 to 1,920 · axis starts at 1,881

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

165
1271682082010-03-31: 1352011-03-31: 1602012-03-31: 1452013-03-31: 1402014-03-31: 1502015-03-31: 1352016-03-31: 1552017-03-31: 1552018-03-31: 1652019-03-31: 1652020-03-31: 1802021-03-31: 1852022-03-31: 1902023-03-31: 2002024-03-31: 1752025-03-31: 1702026-03-31: 165 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 135 to 200 · axis starts at 127

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

219,570
217k218k220k2025-03-31: 217k2026-03-31: 220k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 217k to 220k · axis starts at 217k

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

183,471
56k127k197k1998-12-31: 70k1999-12-31: 71k2000-12-31: 74k2001-12-31: 78k2002-12-31: 81k2003-12-31: 86k2004-12-31: 92k2005-12-31: 97k2006-12-31: 104k2007-12-31: 108k2008-12-31: 113k2009-12-31: 113k2010-12-31: 113k2011-12-31: 116k2012-12-31: 119k2013-12-31: 125k2014-12-31: 130k2015-12-31: 132k2016-12-31: 134k2017-12-31: 141k2018-12-31: 143k2019-12-31: 149k2020-12-31: 141k2021-12-31: 152k2022-12-31: 167k2023-12-31: 183k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 70k to 183k · axis starts at 56k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Scotland

Aberdeen City · Aberdeenshire · Angus · Argyll and Bute · City of Edinburgh · Clackmannanshire · Dumfries and Galloway · Dundee City · East Ayrshire · East Dunbartonshire · East Lothian · East Renfrewshire · Falkirk · Fife · Glasgow City · Highland · Inverclyde · Midlothian · Moray · Na h-Eileanan Siar · North Ayrshire · North Lanarkshire · Orkney Islands · Perth and Kinross · Renfrewshire · Scottish Borders · Shetland Islands · South Ayrshire · South Lanarkshire · Stirling · West Dunbartonshire · West Lothian