The Datum Report

ITL1 region

South East (England)

What we think is happening

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

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

By subject

Every figure published for South 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
10.3%
9.810.711.52020-09-30: 11.32020-12-31: 10.72021-03-31: 10.62021-06-30: 10.62025-09-30: 10.32025-12-31: 102026-03-31: 10.3 2020-09 2026-03
7 monthly readings · 10 to 11.3 · axis starts at 9.8

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
78.9%
77.178.579.92020-03-31: 79.62020-06-30: 79.22020-09-30: 78.72020-12-31: 78.22021-03-31: 77.72021-06-30: 77.42021-09-30: 77.92021-12-31: 77.72022-03-31: 78.12022-06-30: 78.22022-09-30: 78.02022-12-31: 78.12023-03-31: 78.02023-06-30: 78.32023-09-30: 78.52023-12-31: 79.32024-03-31: 79.62024-06-30: 79.22024-09-30: 78.62024-12-31: 78.42025-03-31: 78.42025-06-30: 78.22025-09-30: 78.82025-12-31: 78.92026-03-31: 78.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 77.4 to 79.6 · axis starts at 77.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.7, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.6%
3.63.73.72025-12-31: 3.72026-03-31: 3.6 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 3.6 to 3.7 · axis starts at 3.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.3, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

18.1%
17.518.619.82020-03-31: 17.72020-06-30: 17.82020-09-30: 18.12020-12-31: 18.42021-03-31: 18.92021-06-30: 19.22021-09-30: 18.92021-12-31: 19.22022-03-31: 19.02022-06-30: 19.12022-09-30: 19.62022-12-31: 19.32023-03-31: 19.32023-06-30: 18.82023-09-30: 18.72024-03-31: 17.72024-06-30: 18.12024-09-30: 18.52024-12-31: 18.82025-03-31: 18.92025-06-30: 19.02025-09-30: 18.42025-12-31: 18.12026-03-31: 18.1 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 17.7 to 19.6 · axis starts at 17.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±0.6, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Claimant count
August 2026
185,290
180k184k188k2026-01-31: 181k2026-02-28: 187k2026-03-31: 188k2026-04-30: 185k2026-05-31: 184k2026-06-30: 183k2026-07-31: 182k2026-08-31: 185k 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 181k to 188k · axis starts at 180k

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

3.1%
3.03.13.22026-01-31: 32026-02-28: 3.12026-03-31: 3.22026-04-30: 3.12026-05-31: 3.12026-06-30: 3.12026-07-31: 3.12026-08-31: 3.1 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3 to 3.2 · axis starts at 3.0

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
0.4%
0.20.30.42025-12-31: 0.22026-03-31: 0.4 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 0.2 to 0.4 · 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.

26.1%
25.92626.12025-12-31: 25.92026-03-31: 26.1 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 25.9 to 26.1 · axis starts at 25.9

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.

16.7%
16.716.816.92025-12-31: 16.92026-03-31: 16.7 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 16.7 to 16.9 · axis starts at 16.7

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.

13.3%
13.313.413.62025-12-31: 13.62026-03-31: 13.3 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 13.3 to 13.6 · axis starts at 13.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.3, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

27.7%
27.628.028.52025-12-31: 28.42026-03-31: 27.7 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 27.7 to 28.4 · axis starts at 27.6

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
£29,577
11k21k32k1997-12-31: 13k1998-12-31: 13k1999-12-31: 13k2000-12-31: 14k2001-12-31: 15k2002-12-31: 15k2003-12-31: 15k2004-12-31: 16k2005-12-31: 16k2006-12-31: 17k2007-12-31: 18k2008-12-31: 18k2009-12-31: 19k2010-12-31: 19k2011-12-31: 19k2012-12-31: 19k2013-12-31: 20k2014-12-31: 21k2015-12-31: 22k2016-12-31: 22k2017-12-31: 23k2018-12-31: 23k2019-12-31: 24k2020-12-31: 24k2021-12-31: 25k2022-12-31: 26k2023-12-31: 28k2024-12-31: 30k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 13k to 30k · axis starts at 11k

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,786
1,8322,3602,8882020-01-31: 1,9772020-02-29: 1,9862020-03-31: 1,9872020-04-30: 1,9342020-05-31: 1,9402020-06-30: 1,9582020-07-31: 1,9912020-08-31: 2,0202020-09-30: 2,0392020-10-31: 2,0482020-11-30: 2,0602020-12-31: 2,0842021-01-31: 2,0592021-02-28: 2,0692021-03-31: 2,1022021-04-30: 2,1102021-05-31: 2,1142021-06-30: 2,1142021-07-31: 2,1142021-08-31: 2,1202021-09-30: 2,1532021-10-31: 2,1602021-11-30: 2,1692021-12-31: 2,1982022-01-31: 2,1752022-02-28: 2,1782022-03-31: 2,2122022-04-30: 2,2172022-05-31: 2,2332022-06-30: 2,2462022-07-31: 2,2482022-08-31: 2,2652022-09-30: 2,3122022-10-31: 2,3052022-11-30: 2,3392022-12-31: 2,3722023-01-31: 2,3322023-02-28: 2,3322023-03-31: 2,3682023-04-30: 2,3772023-05-31: 2,4122023-06-30: 2,4642023-07-31: 2,4082023-08-31: 2,4172023-09-30: 2,4322023-10-31: 2,4362023-11-30: 2,4712023-12-31: 2,5002024-01-31: 2,4662024-02-29: 2,4692024-03-31: 2,5082024-04-30: 2,5192024-05-31: 2,5372024-06-30: 2,5272024-07-31: 2,5342024-08-31: 2,5372024-09-30: 2,5472024-10-31: 2,6062024-11-30: 2,6102024-12-31: 2,6212025-01-31: 2,5862025-02-28: 2,5842025-03-31: 2,6152025-04-30: 2,6452025-05-31: 2,6562025-06-30: 2,6542025-07-31: 2,6662025-08-31: 2,6932025-09-30: 2,6902025-10-31: 2,6972025-11-30: 2,6972025-12-31: 2,7312026-01-31: 2,7062026-02-28: 2,7122026-03-31: 2,7482026-04-30: 2,7752026-05-31: 2,7792026-06-30: 2,7852026-07-31: 2,786 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,934 to 2,786 · axis starts at 1,832

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

4,302,103
3.9m4.1m4.4m2020-01-31: 4.1m2020-02-29: 4.1m2020-03-31: 4.1m2020-04-30: 4.0m2020-05-31: 4.0m2020-06-30: 4.0m2020-07-31: 4.0m2020-08-31: 4.0m2020-09-30: 4.0m2020-10-31: 4.0m2020-11-30: 4.0m2020-12-31: 4.0m2021-01-31: 4.0m2021-02-28: 3.9m2021-03-31: 4.0m2021-04-30: 4.0m2021-05-31: 4.0m2021-06-30: 4.1m2021-07-31: 4.1m2021-08-31: 4.1m2021-09-30: 4.1m2021-10-31: 4.1m2021-11-30: 4.1m2021-12-31: 4.1m2022-01-31: 4.1m2022-02-28: 4.1m2022-03-31: 4.1m2022-04-30: 4.1m2022-05-31: 4.2m2022-06-30: 4.2m2022-07-31: 4.2m2022-08-31: 4.2m2022-09-30: 4.2m2022-10-31: 4.2m2022-11-30: 4.2m2022-12-31: 4.2m2023-01-31: 4.2m2023-02-28: 4.2m2023-03-31: 4.2m2023-04-30: 4.2m2023-05-31: 4.3m2023-06-30: 4.3m2023-07-31: 4.3m2023-08-31: 4.3m2023-09-30: 4.3m2023-10-31: 4.3m2023-11-30: 4.3m2023-12-31: 4.3m2024-01-31: 4.3m2024-02-29: 4.3m2024-03-31: 4.3m2024-04-30: 4.3m2024-05-31: 4.3m2024-06-30: 4.3m2024-07-31: 4.3m2024-08-31: 4.3m2024-09-30: 4.3m2024-10-31: 4.3m2024-11-30: 4.3m2024-12-31: 4.3m2025-01-31: 4.3m2025-02-28: 4.3m2025-03-31: 4.3m2025-04-30: 4.3m2025-05-31: 4.3m2025-06-30: 4.3m2025-07-31: 4.3m2025-08-31: 4.3m2025-09-30: 4.3m2025-10-31: 4.3m2025-11-30: 4.3m2025-12-31: 4.3m2026-01-31: 4.3m2026-02-28: 4.2m2026-03-31: 4.3m2026-04-30: 4.3m2026-05-31: 4.3m2026-06-30: 4.3m2026-07-31: 4.3m 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 3.9m to 4.3m · axis starts at 3.9m

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

Business 12
Businesses
2026
412,080
404k408k413k2025-03-31: 405k2026-03-31: 412k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 405k to 412k · axis starts at 404k

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

326,600
320k324k327k2025-03-31: 321k2026-03-31: 327k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 321k to 327k · axis starts at 320k

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

22,400
22k22k22k2025-03-31: 22k2026-03-31: 22k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 22k to 22k · axis starts at 22k

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

2,130
2,1262,1482,1692025-03-31: 2,1652026-03-31: 2,130 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 2,130 to 2,165 · axis starts at 2,126

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

435
3393954512010-03-31: 3852011-03-31: 3652012-03-31: 3502013-03-31: 3702014-03-31: 3652015-03-31: 3802016-03-31: 3602017-03-31: 3752018-03-31: 3652019-03-31: 4002020-03-31: 4052021-03-31: 4052022-03-31: 4052023-03-31: 4002024-03-31: 4302025-03-31: 4402026-03-31: 435 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 350 to 440 · axis starts at 339

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

12,305
12k12k12k2025-03-31: 12k2026-03-31: 12k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 12k to 12k · 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.

780
7758008252025-03-31: 8202026-03-31: 780 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 780 to 820 · axis starts at 775

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

42,755
42k42k43k2025-03-31: 42k2026-03-31: 43k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 42k to 43k · axis starts at 42k

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

4,245
4,1164,1884,2592025-03-31: 4,1302026-03-31: 4,245 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 4,130 to 4,245 · axis starts at 4,116

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

435
3123804482010-03-31: 3302011-03-31: 3252012-03-31: 3502013-03-31: 3452014-03-31: 3702015-03-31: 3652016-03-31: 3802017-03-31: 3902018-03-31: 4152019-03-31: 3952020-03-31: 3952021-03-31: 3952022-03-31: 4152023-03-31: 4352024-03-31: 4202025-03-31: 4202026-03-31: 435 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 325 to 435 · axis starts at 312

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

472,255
464k469k473k2025-03-31: 465k2026-03-31: 472k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 465k to 472k · axis starts at 464k

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

354,501
110k245k381k1998-12-31: 136k1999-12-31: 142k2000-12-31: 149k2001-12-31: 155k2002-12-31: 162k2003-12-31: 170k2004-12-31: 175k2005-12-31: 185k2006-12-31: 193k2007-12-31: 201k2008-12-31: 212k2009-12-31: 208k2010-12-31: 214k2011-12-31: 220k2012-12-31: 228k2013-12-31: 236k2014-12-31: 245k2015-12-31: 255k2016-12-31: 261k2017-12-31: 271k2018-12-31: 280k2019-12-31: 296k2020-12-31: 291k2021-12-31: 304k2022-12-31: 326k2023-12-31: 355k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 136k to 355k · axis starts at 110k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in South East (England)

Adur · Arun · Ashford · Basingstoke and Deane · Bracknell Forest · Brighton and Hove · Buckinghamshire · Canterbury · Cherwell · Chichester · Crawley · Dartford · Dover · East Hampshire · Eastbourne · Eastleigh · Elmbridge · Epsom and Ewell · Fareham · Folkestone and Hythe · Gosport · Gravesham · Guildford · Hart · Hastings · Havant · Horsham · Isle of Wight · Lewes · Maidstone · Medway · Mid Sussex · Milton Keynes · Mole Valley · New Forest · Oxford · Portsmouth · Reading · Reigate and Banstead · Rother · Runnymede · Rushmoor · Sevenoaks · Slough · South Oxfordshire · Southampton · Spelthorne · Surrey Heath · Swale · Tandridge · Test Valley · Thanet · Tonbridge and Malling · Tunbridge Wells · Vale of White Horse · Waverley · Wealden · West Berkshire · West Oxfordshire · Winchester