The Datum Report

ITL1 region

Wales

What we think is happening

The job market in Wales has been getting stronger.

improving · established confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

By subject

Every figure published for Wales. 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
8.0%
7.58.69.72020-03-31: 9.42020-06-30: 9.52020-09-30: 9.22020-12-31: 9.12021-03-31: 8.72021-06-30: 8.82021-09-30: 8.82021-12-31: 8.72022-03-31: 8.72022-06-30: 8.42022-09-30: 8.52022-12-31: 8.32023-03-31: 8.42023-06-30: 8.32023-09-30: 8.12023-12-31: 8.52024-03-31: 8.42024-06-30: 8.02024-09-30: 8.02024-12-31: 7.72025-03-31: 7.82025-06-30: 8.02025-09-30: 7.92025-12-31: 7.92026-03-31: 8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.7 to 9.5 · axis starts at 7.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.6, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
72.1%
71.873.174.32020-03-31: 73.62020-06-30: 73.72020-09-30: 73.22020-12-31: 72.72021-03-31: 72.22021-06-30: 72.12021-09-30: 72.82021-12-31: 73.02022-03-31: 73.62022-06-30: 73.72022-09-30: 73.42022-12-31: 73.32023-03-31: 73.02023-06-30: 73.62023-09-30: 74.12023-12-31: 74.12024-03-31: 73.52024-06-30: 73.02024-09-30: 72.72024-12-31: 72.82025-03-31: 73.42025-06-30: 72.72025-09-30: 72.42025-12-31: 72.52026-03-31: 72.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.1 to 74.1 · 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
4.4%
4.44.54.62025-12-31: 4.62026-03-31: 4.4 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 4.4 to 4.6 · axis starts at 4.4

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.

24.5%
22.624.025.32020-03-31: 23.52020-06-30: 23.42020-09-30: 23.92020-12-31: 24.42021-03-31: 24.82021-06-30: 24.52021-09-30: 24.02021-12-31: 23.72022-03-31: 23.52022-06-30: 23.52022-09-30: 24.12022-12-31: 24.42023-03-31: 24.52023-06-30: 23.82023-09-30: 22.92023-12-31: 23.02024-03-31: 23.82024-06-30: 24.52024-09-30: 25.12024-12-31: 24.72025-03-31: 23.92025-06-30: 24.12025-09-30: 24.12025-12-31: 242026-03-31: 24.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 22.9 to 25.1 · axis starts at 22.6

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

Claimant count
August 2026
65,615
62k64k66k2026-01-31: 63k2026-02-28: 65k2026-03-31: 65k2026-04-30: 64k2026-05-31: 64k2026-06-30: 64k2026-07-31: 64k2026-08-31: 66k 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 63k to 66k · axis starts at 62k

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

3.4%
3.23.33.42026-01-31: 3.22026-02-28: 3.32026-03-31: 3.42026-04-30: 3.32026-05-31: 3.32026-06-30: 3.32026-07-31: 3.32026-08-31: 3.4 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.2 to 3.4 · 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
0.6%
0.40.50.62025-12-31: 0.42026-03-31: 0.6 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 0.4 to 0.6 · axis starts at 0.4

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.

33.1%
32.933.934.82025-12-31: 34.62026-03-31: 33.1 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 33.1 to 34.6 · axis starts at 32.9

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.

14.7%
14.614.614.72025-12-31: 14.62026-03-31: 14.7 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 14.6 to 14.7 · axis starts at 14.6

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.

14.1%
13.813.914.12025-12-31: 13.82026-03-31: 14.1 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 13.8 to 14.1 · axis starts at 13.8

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.

22.9%
22.823.223.72025-12-31: 23.62026-03-31: 22.9 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 22.9 to 23.6 · axis starts at 22.8

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.

Pay 3
£21,469
7,80215k23k1997-12-31: 9,2661998-12-31: 9,3101999-12-31: 9,7352000-12-31: 10k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 13k2008-12-31: 13k2009-12-31: 13k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 14k2012-12-31: 14k2013-12-31: 15k2014-12-31: 15k2015-12-31: 16k2016-12-31: 16k2017-12-31: 16k2018-12-31: 17k2019-12-31: 17k2020-12-31: 18k2021-12-31: 18k2022-12-31: 19k2023-12-31: 20k2024-12-31: 21k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,266 to 21k · axis starts at 7,802

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,518
1,5932,1062,6182020-01-31: 1,7152020-02-29: 1,7292020-03-31: 1,7232020-04-30: 1,6922020-05-31: 1,7102020-06-30: 1,7252020-07-31: 1,7492020-08-31: 1,7772020-09-30: 1,8142020-10-31: 1,8192020-11-30: 1,8212020-12-31: 1,8242021-01-31: 1,8082021-02-28: 1,8092021-03-31: 1,8302021-04-30: 1,8602021-05-31: 1,8882021-06-30: 1,8592021-07-31: 1,8762021-08-31: 1,8802021-09-30: 1,8882021-10-31: 1,8832021-11-30: 1,8892021-12-31: 1,9162022-01-31: 1,9072022-02-28: 1,9072022-03-31: 1,9452022-04-30: 1,9452022-05-31: 1,9842022-06-30: 2,0072022-07-31: 1,9732022-08-31: 1,9912022-09-30: 2,0272022-10-31: 2,0292022-11-30: 2,1032022-12-31: 2,0722023-01-31: 2,0352023-02-28: 2,0482023-03-31: 2,0872023-04-30: 2,1112023-05-31: 2,1462023-06-30: 2,1622023-07-31: 2,1652023-08-31: 2,1412023-09-30: 2,1482023-10-31: 2,1662023-11-30: 2,2382023-12-31: 2,2122024-01-31: 2,1812024-02-29: 2,1952024-03-31: 2,2202024-04-30: 2,2522024-05-31: 2,2712024-06-30: 2,2632024-07-31: 2,2672024-08-31: 2,2792024-09-30: 2,2792024-10-31: 2,3322024-11-30: 2,4102024-12-31: 2,3502025-01-31: 2,3292025-02-28: 2,3282025-03-31: 2,3552025-04-30: 2,3812025-05-31: 2,3962025-06-30: 2,3892025-07-31: 2,4092025-08-31: 2,4502025-09-30: 2,4252025-10-31: 2,4352025-11-30: 2,4422025-12-31: 2,4622026-01-31: 2,4432026-02-28: 2,4522026-03-31: 2,4822026-04-30: 2,5082026-05-31: 2,5172026-06-30: 2,5192026-07-31: 2,518 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,692 to 2,519 · axis starts at 1,593

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

1,315,341
1.2m1.3m1.3m2020-01-31: 1.3m2020-02-29: 1.3m2020-03-31: 1.3m2020-04-30: 1.2m2020-05-31: 1.2m2020-06-30: 1.2m2020-07-31: 1.2m2020-08-31: 1.2m2020-09-30: 1.2m2020-10-31: 1.2m2020-11-30: 1.2m2020-12-31: 1.2m2021-01-31: 1.2m2021-02-28: 1.2m2021-03-31: 1.2m2021-04-30: 1.2m2021-05-31: 1.2m2021-06-30: 1.3m2021-07-31: 1.3m2021-08-31: 1.3m2021-09-30: 1.3m2021-10-31: 1.3m2021-11-30: 1.3m2021-12-31: 1.3m2022-01-31: 1.3m2022-02-28: 1.3m2022-03-31: 1.3m2022-04-30: 1.3m2022-05-31: 1.3m2022-06-30: 1.3m2022-07-31: 1.3m2022-08-31: 1.3m2022-09-30: 1.3m2022-10-31: 1.3m2022-11-30: 1.3m2022-12-31: 1.3m2023-01-31: 1.3m2023-02-28: 1.3m2023-03-31: 1.3m2023-04-30: 1.3m2023-05-31: 1.3m2023-06-30: 1.3m2023-07-31: 1.3m2023-08-31: 1.3m2023-09-30: 1.3m2023-10-31: 1.3m2023-11-30: 1.3m2023-12-31: 1.3m2024-01-31: 1.3m2024-02-29: 1.3m2024-03-31: 1.3m2024-04-30: 1.3m2024-05-31: 1.3m2024-06-30: 1.3m2024-07-31: 1.3m2024-08-31: 1.3m2024-09-30: 1.3m2024-10-31: 1.3m2024-11-30: 1.3m2024-12-31: 1.3m2025-01-31: 1.3m2025-02-28: 1.3m2025-03-31: 1.3m2025-04-30: 1.3m2025-05-31: 1.3m2025-06-30: 1.3m2025-07-31: 1.3m2025-08-31: 1.3m2025-09-30: 1.3m2025-10-31: 1.3m2025-11-30: 1.3m2025-12-31: 1.3m2026-01-31: 1.3m2026-02-28: 1.3m2026-03-31: 1.3m2026-04-30: 1.3m2026-05-31: 1.3m2026-06-30: 1.3m2026-07-31: 1.3m 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1.2m to 1.3m · axis starts at 1.2m

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

Business 12
Businesses
2026
106,170
105k105k106k2025-03-31: 105k2026-03-31: 106k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 105k to 106k · axis starts at 105k

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

81,500
80k81k82k2025-03-31: 81k2026-03-31: 82k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 81k to 82k · axis starts at 80k

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

6,675
6,4686,5826,6972025-03-31: 6,4902026-03-31: 6,675 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 6,490 to 6,675 · axis starts at 6,468

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

525
5245305362025-03-31: 5352026-03-31: 525 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 525 to 535 · axis starts at 524

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

100
7287.51032010-03-31: 752011-03-31: 802012-03-31: 852013-03-31: 852014-03-31: 902015-03-31: 852016-03-31: 802017-03-31: 752018-03-31: 802019-03-31: 902020-03-31: 902021-03-31: 852022-03-31: 802023-03-31: 802024-03-31: 902025-03-31: 1002026-03-31: 100 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 75 to 100 · axis starts at 72

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

3,050
2,9943,0253,0562025-03-31: 3,0002026-03-31: 3,050 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 3,000 to 3,050 · axis starts at 2,994

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

145
1441481512025-03-31: 1502026-03-31: 145 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 145 to 150 · axis starts at 144

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

13,050
13k13k13k2025-03-31: 13k2026-03-31: 13k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 13k to 13k · axis starts at 13k

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

1,030
9271,0301,1332025-03-31: 1,0302026-03-31: 1,030 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · unchanged at 1,030 · axis starts at 927

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

90
50.872.594.22010-03-31: 552011-03-31: 652012-03-31: 652013-03-31: 552014-03-31: 702015-03-31: 652016-03-31: 702017-03-31: 652018-03-31: 752019-03-31: 852020-03-31: 852021-03-31: 852022-03-31: 702023-03-31: 752024-03-31: 902025-03-31: 802026-03-31: 90 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 55 to 90 · axis starts at 50.8

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

128,250
127k128k128k2025-03-31: 127k2026-03-31: 128k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 127k to 128k · axis starts at 127k

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

81,458
27k57k87k1998-12-31: 33k1999-12-31: 33k2000-12-31: 35k2001-12-31: 36k2002-12-31: 38k2003-12-31: 40k2004-12-31: 43k2005-12-31: 45k2006-12-31: 47k2007-12-31: 49k2008-12-31: 49k2009-12-31: 49k2010-12-31: 50k2011-12-31: 52k2012-12-31: 54k2013-12-31: 56k2014-12-31: 57k2015-12-31: 59k2016-12-31: 61k2017-12-31: 63k2018-12-31: 65k2019-12-31: 68k2020-12-31: 65k2021-12-31: 68k2022-12-31: 75k2023-12-31: 81k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 33k to 81k · axis starts at 27k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Wales

Blaenau Gwent · Bridgend · Caerphilly · Cardiff · Carmarthenshire · Ceredigion · Conwy · Denbighshire · Flintshire · Gwynedd · Isle of Anglesey · Merthyr Tydfil · Monmouthshire · Neath Port Talbot · Newport · Pembrokeshire · Powys · Rhondda Cynon Taf · Swansea · Torfaen · Vale of Glamorgan · Wrexham