The Datum Report

ITL1 region

West Midlands (England)

What we think is happening

Pay in West Midlands (England) has been growing.

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

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in West Midlands (England) has been going both ways.

tentative confidence · how we reached this

By subject

Every figure published for West Midlands (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
8.1%
7.69.010.32020-03-31: 9.92020-06-30: 10.12020-09-30: 9.42020-12-31: 9.22021-03-31: 9.12021-06-30: 8.52021-09-30: 8.52021-12-31: 8.42022-12-31: 8.32023-03-31: 8.42023-06-30: 8.72023-09-30: 8.72024-03-31: 8.42024-12-31: 8.52025-09-30: 8.12025-12-31: 7.92026-03-31: 8.1 2020-03 2026-03
17 monthly readings · 7.9 to 10.1 · axis starts at 7.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.6, basis not documented by the producer
8 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
73.6%
73.374.475.42020-03-31: 73.92020-06-30: 74.22020-09-30: 73.52020-12-31: 73.52021-03-31: 73.72021-06-30: 73.52021-09-30: 73.62021-12-31: 73.62022-03-31: 73.72022-06-30: 73.52022-09-30: 73.62022-12-31: 73.82023-03-31: 73.62023-06-30: 74.32023-09-30: 74.82023-12-31: 75.22024-03-31: 75.02024-06-30: 74.62024-09-30: 74.32024-12-31: 74.02025-03-31: 73.92025-06-30: 74.22025-09-30: 74.32025-12-31: 73.62026-03-31: 73.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 73.5 to 75.2 · axis starts at 73.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.0, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
5.8%
5.85.85.92025-12-31: 5.92026-03-31: 5.8 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 5.8 to 5.9 · axis starts at 5.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.6, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

21.9%
21.121.922.82020-03-31: 22.22020-06-30: 21.92020-09-30: 22.32020-12-31: 22.22021-03-31: 21.92021-06-30: 22.12021-09-30: 22.42021-12-31: 22.42022-03-31: 22.52022-06-30: 22.52022-09-30: 22.52022-12-31: 22.52023-03-31: 22.52023-06-30: 22.02023-09-30: 21.52023-12-31: 21.22024-06-30: 22.32024-09-30: 22.42024-12-31: 22.52025-03-31: 22.62025-06-30: 22.02025-09-30: 21.32025-12-31: 21.82026-03-31: 21.9 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 21.2 to 22.6 · axis starts at 21.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±0.9, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Claimant count
August 2026
203,540
193k199k205k2026-01-31: 194k2026-02-28: 200k2026-03-31: 201k2026-04-30: 199k2026-05-31: 199k2026-06-30: 199k2026-07-31: 198k2026-08-31: 204k 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 194k to 204k · axis starts at 193k

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

5.3%
5.15.25.32026-01-31: 5.12026-02-28: 5.22026-03-31: 5.32026-04-30: 5.22026-05-31: 5.22026-06-30: 5.22026-07-31: 5.22026-08-31: 5.3 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 5.1 to 5.3 · axis starts at 5.1

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%
0.30.30.42025-12-31: 0.32026-03-31: 0.4 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 0.3 to 0.4 · axis starts at 0.3

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.

28.8%
28.729.129.62025-12-31: 29.52026-03-31: 28.8 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 28.8 to 29.5 · axis starts at 28.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.1, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

20.2%
18.220.222.22025-12-31: 20.22026-03-31: 20.2 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · unchanged at 20.2 · axis starts at 18.2

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.

10.7%
10.611.111.62025-12-31: 11.52026-03-31: 10.7 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 10.7 to 11.5 · axis starts at 10.6

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.

26.5%
25.826.226.62025-12-31: 25.92026-03-31: 26.5 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 25.9 to 26.5 · axis starts at 25.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.1, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£22,064
8,19316k24k1997-12-31: 9,6791998-12-31: 9,9591999-12-31: 10k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 13k2008-12-31: 14k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 14k2012-12-31: 15k2013-12-31: 15k2014-12-31: 16k2015-12-31: 16k2016-12-31: 17k2017-12-31: 17k2018-12-31: 17k2019-12-31: 18k2020-12-31: 18k2021-12-31: 19k2022-12-31: 20k2023-12-31: 21k2024-12-31: 22k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,679 to 22k · axis starts at 8,193

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,533
1,5932,1142,6342020-01-31: 1,7332020-02-29: 1,7392020-03-31: 1,7342020-04-30: 1,6942020-05-31: 1,7112020-06-30: 1,7332020-07-31: 1,7662020-08-31: 1,7832020-09-30: 1,8072020-10-31: 1,8132020-11-30: 1,8212020-12-31: 1,8472021-01-31: 1,8142021-02-28: 1,8162021-03-31: 1,8402021-04-30: 1,8552021-05-31: 1,8552021-06-30: 1,8602021-07-31: 1,8622021-08-31: 1,8702021-09-30: 1,8992021-10-31: 1,9012021-11-30: 1,9052021-12-31: 1,9442022-01-31: 1,9082022-02-28: 1,9152022-03-31: 1,9552022-04-30: 1,9582022-05-31: 1,9742022-06-30: 1,9852022-07-31: 1,9922022-08-31: 2,0052022-09-30: 2,0382022-10-31: 2,0332022-11-30: 2,0912022-12-31: 2,0872023-01-31: 2,0522023-02-28: 2,0542023-03-31: 2,0812023-04-30: 2,1142023-05-31: 2,1382023-06-30: 2,1892023-07-31: 2,1442023-08-31: 2,1472023-09-30: 2,1612023-10-31: 2,1682023-11-30: 2,2212023-12-31: 2,2262024-01-31: 2,1902024-02-29: 2,1962024-03-31: 2,2202024-04-30: 2,2622024-05-31: 2,2802024-06-30: 2,2732024-07-31: 2,2822024-08-31: 2,2862024-09-30: 2,2902024-10-31: 2,3452024-11-30: 2,3642024-12-31: 2,3672025-01-31: 2,3282025-02-28: 2,3272025-03-31: 2,3512025-04-30: 2,3922025-05-31: 2,4052025-06-30: 2,4052025-07-31: 2,4182025-08-31: 2,4502025-09-30: 2,4352025-10-31: 2,4382025-11-30: 2,4412025-12-31: 2,4712026-01-31: 2,4382026-02-28: 2,4482026-03-31: 2,4722026-04-30: 2,5112026-05-31: 2,5202026-06-30: 2,5312026-07-31: 2,533 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,694 to 2,533 · axis starts at 1,593

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

2,629,444
2.4m2.5m2.7m2020-01-31: 2.5m2020-02-29: 2.5m2020-03-31: 2.5m2020-04-30: 2.4m2020-05-31: 2.4m2020-06-30: 2.4m2020-07-31: 2.4m2020-08-31: 2.4m2020-09-30: 2.4m2020-10-31: 2.4m2020-11-30: 2.4m2020-12-31: 2.4m2021-01-31: 2.4m2021-02-28: 2.4m2021-03-31: 2.4m2021-04-30: 2.4m2021-05-31: 2.5m2021-06-30: 2.5m2021-07-31: 2.5m2021-08-31: 2.5m2021-09-30: 2.5m2021-10-31: 2.5m2021-11-30: 2.5m2021-12-31: 2.5m2022-01-31: 2.5m2022-02-28: 2.5m2022-03-31: 2.5m2022-04-30: 2.5m2022-05-31: 2.5m2022-06-30: 2.5m2022-07-31: 2.6m2022-08-31: 2.6m2022-09-30: 2.6m2022-10-31: 2.6m2022-11-30: 2.6m2022-12-31: 2.6m2023-01-31: 2.6m2023-02-28: 2.6m2023-03-31: 2.6m2023-04-30: 2.6m2023-05-31: 2.6m2023-06-30: 2.6m2023-07-31: 2.6m2023-08-31: 2.6m2023-09-30: 2.6m2023-10-31: 2.6m2023-11-30: 2.6m2023-12-31: 2.6m2024-01-31: 2.6m2024-02-29: 2.6m2024-03-31: 2.6m2024-04-30: 2.6m2024-05-31: 2.6m2024-06-30: 2.6m2024-07-31: 2.6m2024-08-31: 2.6m2024-09-30: 2.6m2024-10-31: 2.6m2024-11-30: 2.6m2024-12-31: 2.6m2025-01-31: 2.6m2025-02-28: 2.6m2025-03-31: 2.6m2025-04-30: 2.6m2025-05-31: 2.6m2025-06-30: 2.6m2025-07-31: 2.6m2025-08-31: 2.6m2025-09-30: 2.6m2025-10-31: 2.6m2025-11-30: 2.6m2025-12-31: 2.6m2026-01-31: 2.6m2026-02-28: 2.6m2026-03-31: 2.6m2026-04-30: 2.6m2026-05-31: 2.6m2026-06-30: 2.6m2026-07-31: 2.6m 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 2.4m to 2.6m · axis starts at 2.4m

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

Business 12
Businesses
2026
219,545
216k218k220k2025-03-31: 216k2026-03-31: 220k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 216k to 220k · axis starts at 216k

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

170,295
167k169k171k2025-03-31: 168k2026-03-31: 170k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 168k to 170k · axis starts at 167k

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

13,150
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.

1,165
1,0481,1651,2822025-03-31: 1,1652026-03-31: 1,165 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · unchanged at 1,165 · axis starts at 1,048

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
2052322602010-03-31: 2252011-03-31: 2102012-03-31: 2102013-03-31: 2152014-03-31: 2152015-03-31: 2152016-03-31: 2152017-03-31: 2202018-03-31: 2352019-03-31: 2402020-03-31: 2302021-03-31: 2302022-03-31: 2302023-03-31: 2502024-03-31: 2452025-03-31: 2502026-03-31: 255 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 210 to 255 · axis starts at 205

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

6,905
6,7826,8506,9182025-03-31: 6,7952026-03-31: 6,905 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 6,795 to 6,905 · axis starts at 6,782

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

455
4534654772025-03-31: 4752026-03-31: 455 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 455 to 475 · axis starts at 453

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

24,710
25k25k25k2025-03-31: 25k2026-03-31: 25k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 25k to 25k · axis starts at 25k

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

2,350
2,2772,3182,3582025-03-31: 2,2852026-03-31: 2,350 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 2,285 to 2,350 · axis starts at 2,277

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
1262002742010-03-31: 1552011-03-31: 1502012-03-31: 1602013-03-31: 1402014-03-31: 1552015-03-31: 1552016-03-31: 1852017-03-31: 1952018-03-31: 2152019-03-31: 2152020-03-31: 2552021-03-31: 2402022-03-31: 2502023-03-31: 2602024-03-31: 2552025-03-31: 2502026-03-31: 255 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 140 to 260 · axis starts at 126

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

255,340
252k254k256k2025-03-31: 252k2026-03-31: 255k 2025-03 2026-03
2 annual readings · 252k to 255k · axis starts at 252k

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

174,608
58k123k187k1998-12-31: 71k1999-12-31: 73k2000-12-31: 75k2001-12-31: 78k2002-12-31: 81k2003-12-31: 85k2004-12-31: 89k2005-12-31: 93k2006-12-31: 96k2007-12-31: 99k2008-12-31: 102k2009-12-31: 99k2010-12-31: 102k2011-12-31: 105k2012-12-31: 109k2013-12-31: 114k2014-12-31: 119k2015-12-31: 124k2016-12-31: 129k2017-12-31: 136k2018-12-31: 141k2019-12-31: 144k2020-12-31: 136k2021-12-31: 147k2022-12-31: 159k2023-12-31: 175k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 71k to 175k · axis starts at 58k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West Midlands (England)

Birmingham · Bromsgrove · Cannock Chase · Coventry · Dudley · East Staffordshire · Herefordshire, County of · Lichfield · Malvern Hills · Newcastle-under-Lyme · North Warwickshire · Nuneaton and Bedworth · Redditch · Rugby · Sandwell · Shropshire · Solihull · South Staffordshire · Stafford · Staffordshire Moorlands · Stoke-on-Trent · Stratford-on-Avon · Tamworth · Telford and Wrekin · Walsall · Warwick · Wolverhampton · Worcester · Wychavon · Wyre Forest