The Datum Report

Sub-region

Cheshire

What we think is happening

The job market in Cheshire has been weakening.

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

Other standing views

Business

Businesses employing 100 to 249 people in Cheshire has been falling, while businesses employing 50 to 99 people has been rising.

tentative 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
Businesses employing 50 to 99 people 2026 475 +30 in the top 2% of 46
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 25.0% -5.3 in the bottom 1% of 45
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 25.2% +2.6 in the top 4% of 45
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 17.3% -1.0 in the bottom 4% of 45

By subject

Every figure published for Cheshire. 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
10.0%
6.18.611.22020-03-31: 10.72020-06-30: 10.12020-09-30: 9.82020-12-31: 9.42021-03-31: 9.32021-06-30: 9.32021-09-30: 9.42021-12-31: 8.82022-03-31: 9.42022-06-30: 9.22022-09-30: 10.22022-12-31: 9.42023-03-31: 8.22023-06-30: 8.22023-09-30: 7.02023-12-31: 7.22024-03-31: 6.92024-06-30: 6.62024-09-30: 6.72024-12-31: 7.42025-03-31: 8.72025-06-30: 9.22025-09-30: 10.62025-12-31: 10.12026-03-31: 10 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.6 to 10.7 · axis starts at 6.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.7, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
79.0%
75.077.980.92020-03-31: 80.32020-06-30: 79.42020-09-30: 78.32020-12-31: 79.12021-03-31: 76.82021-06-30: 77.22021-09-30: 76.82021-12-31: 75.62022-03-31: 76.82022-06-30: 76.02022-09-30: 77.92022-12-31: 76.32023-03-31: 76.92023-06-30: 77.72023-09-30: 76.92023-12-31: 80.12024-03-31: 79.02024-06-30: 79.32024-09-30: 79.72024-12-31: 79.32025-03-31: 78.52025-06-30: 79.72025-09-30: 79.82025-12-31: 78.12026-03-31: 79 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 75.6 to 80.3 · axis starts at 75.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.3, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
4.4%
1.93.34.72020-03-31: 3.42020-06-30: 3.42020-09-30: 3.82020-12-31: 3.82021-03-31: 3.72021-06-30: 3.92021-09-30: 3.62021-12-31: 2.92022-03-31: 3.32022-06-30: 3.12022-09-30: 3.02022-12-31: 3.12023-03-31: 3.52023-06-30: 3.02023-09-30: 2.22023-12-31: 2.72024-03-31: 3.02024-06-30: 3.02025-03-31: 2.62025-06-30: 2.82025-09-30: 3.02025-12-31: 4.32026-03-31: 4.4 2020-03 2026-03
23 monthly readings · 2.2 to 4.4 · axis starts at 1.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.3, basis not documented by the producer
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

17.3%
16.219.522.72020-03-31: 16.92020-06-30: 17.82020-09-30: 18.62020-12-31: 17.82021-03-31: 20.32021-06-30: 19.72021-09-30: 20.42021-12-31: 22.12022-03-31: 20.62022-06-30: 21.62022-09-30: 19.82022-12-31: 21.22023-03-31: 20.32023-06-30: 19.92023-09-30: 21.42023-12-31: 17.72024-03-31: 18.62024-06-30: 18.22024-09-30: 17.62024-12-31: 18.82025-03-31: 19.32025-06-30: 18.12025-09-30: 17.72025-12-31: 18.32026-03-31: 17.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.9 to 22.1 · axis starts at 16.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.2, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
15,690
11k21k32k2020-01-31: 13k2020-02-29: 13k2020-03-31: 13k2020-04-30: 25k2020-05-31: 30k2020-06-30: 28k2020-07-31: 29k2020-08-31: 29k2020-09-30: 29k2020-10-31: 28k2020-11-30: 28k2020-12-31: 27k2021-01-31: 27k2021-02-28: 28k2021-03-31: 28k2021-04-30: 27k2021-05-31: 25k2021-06-30: 23k2021-07-31: 22k2021-08-31: 21k2021-09-30: 20k2021-10-31: 19k2021-11-30: 18k2021-12-31: 18k2022-01-31: 17k2022-02-28: 17k2022-03-31: 17k2022-04-30: 16k2022-05-31: 15k2022-06-30: 15k2022-07-31: 15k2022-08-31: 15k2022-09-30: 15k2022-10-31: 14k2022-11-30: 15k2022-12-31: 15k2023-01-31: 14k2023-02-28: 15k2023-03-31: 15k2023-04-30: 15k2023-05-31: 14k2023-06-30: 14k2023-07-31: 14k2023-08-31: 14k2023-09-30: 14k2023-10-31: 14k2023-11-30: 15k2023-12-31: 14k2024-01-31: 14k2024-02-29: 15k2024-03-31: 15k2024-04-30: 15k2024-05-31: 15k2024-06-30: 15k2024-07-31: 16k2024-08-31: 16k2024-09-30: 16k2024-10-31: 15k2024-11-30: 15k2024-12-31: 15k2025-01-31: 15k2025-02-28: 15k2025-03-31: 15k2025-04-30: 15k2025-05-31: 15k2025-06-30: 15k2025-07-31: 15k2025-08-31: 15k2025-09-30: 15k2025-10-31: 15k2025-11-30: 15k2025-12-31: 15k2026-01-31: 15k2026-02-28: 15k2026-03-31: 15k2026-04-30: 15k2026-05-31: 15k2026-06-30: 15k2026-07-31: 15k2026-08-31: 16k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 13k to 30k · axis starts at 11k

ONS / DWP, Claimant count by sex and age, published 15 September 2026

2.6%
2.42.52.62026-01-31: 2.42026-02-28: 2.52026-03-31: 2.52026-04-30: 2.52026-05-31: 2.52026-06-30: 2.52026-07-31: 2.52026-08-31: 2.6 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.4 to 2.6 · axis starts at 2.4

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
—

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
Not published: Estimate and confidence interval not available since the group sample size is zero or disclosive (0-2)
25 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

25.2%
15.621.727.82020-03-31: 22.82020-06-30: 21.62020-09-30: 22.32020-12-31: 21.02021-03-31: 22.02021-06-30: 22.02021-09-30: 23.22021-12-31: 24.42022-03-31: 24.02022-06-30: 22.62022-09-30: 18.42022-12-31: 21.52023-03-31: 24.12023-06-30: 24.62023-09-30: 24.82023-12-31: 16.82024-03-31: 19.82024-06-30: 18.02024-09-30: 21.92024-12-31: 26.62025-03-31: 22.62025-06-30: 25.02025-09-30: 23.02025-12-31: 22.62026-03-31: 25.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.8 to 26.6 · axis starts at 15.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.8, basis not documented by the producer

15.5%
7.414.421.42020-03-31: 19.72020-06-30: 18.22020-09-30: 18.12020-12-31: 18.42021-03-31: 16.82021-06-30: 16.72021-09-30: 16.92021-12-31: 15.22022-03-31: 14.52022-06-30: 16.92022-09-30: 15.52022-12-31: 16.22023-03-31: 15.52024-03-31: 14.22024-06-30: 20.12024-09-30: 14.82024-12-31: 11.02025-03-31: 10.62025-06-30: 8.82025-09-30: 10.02025-12-31: 14.72026-03-31: 15.5 2020-03 2026-03
22 monthly readings · 8.8 to 20.1 · axis starts at 7.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.8, basis not documented by the producer
3 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

18.5%
17.323.629.92020-03-31: 20.32020-06-30: 22.42020-09-30: 21.52020-12-31: 22.72021-03-31: 25.42021-06-30: 25.92021-09-30: 24.82021-12-31: 26.42022-03-31: 25.62022-06-30: 23.42022-09-30: 28.02022-12-31: 23.42023-03-31: 22.92023-06-30: 24.42023-09-30: 18.92023-12-31: 25.22024-03-31: 23.22024-06-30: 22.52024-09-30: 28.72024-12-31: 26.02025-03-31: 25.72025-06-30: 24.22025-09-30: 21.52025-12-31: 202026-03-31: 18.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18.5 to 28.7 · axis starts at 17.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.2, basis not documented by the producer

25.0%
19.725.631.42020-03-31: 24.42020-06-30: 23.12020-09-30: 24.32020-12-31: 23.52021-03-31: 23.82021-06-30: 24.52021-09-30: 25.02021-12-31: 24.42022-03-31: 24.42022-06-30: 25.02022-09-30: 26.62022-12-31: 25.42023-03-31: 25.12023-06-30: 27.82023-09-30: 27.92023-12-31: 28.92024-03-31: 23.22024-06-30: 22.92024-09-30: 20.82024-12-31: 21.22025-03-31: 27.32025-06-30: 27.52025-09-30: 29.72025-12-31: 30.32026-03-31: 25 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 20.8 to 30.3 · axis starts at 19.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.7, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 1
£27,106
9,23019k29k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 14k2004-12-31: 15k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 16k2007-12-31: 16k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 17k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 18k2013-12-31: 18k2014-12-31: 19k2015-12-31: 20k2016-12-31: 20k2017-12-31: 21k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 22k2020-12-31: 22k2021-12-31: 23k2022-12-31: 24k2023-12-31: 26k2024-12-31: 27k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 27k · axis starts at 9,230

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2026
42,040
32k39k45k2010-03-31: 34k2011-03-31: 33k2012-03-31: 34k2013-03-31: 35k2014-03-31: 36k2015-03-31: 39k2016-03-31: 40k2017-03-31: 42k2018-03-31: 44k2019-03-31: 43k2020-03-31: 43k2021-03-31: 43k2022-03-31: 42k2023-03-31: 41k2024-03-31: 41k2025-03-31: 41k2026-03-31: 42k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 33k to 44k · axis starts at 32k

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises, published 24 September 2026

32,760
25k30k36k2010-03-31: 26k2011-03-31: 26k2012-03-31: 26k2013-03-31: 27k2014-03-31: 28k2015-03-31: 30k2016-03-31: 31k2017-03-31: 33k2018-03-31: 35k2019-03-31: 34k2020-03-31: 34k2021-03-31: 34k2022-03-31: 33k2023-03-31: 32k2024-03-31: 32k2025-03-31: 32k2026-03-31: 33k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 26k to 35k · axis starts at 25k

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

2,440
1,7122,1152,5182010-03-31: 1,8402011-03-31: 1,7902012-03-31: 1,9802013-03-31: 2,0452014-03-31: 2,1502015-03-31: 2,2502016-03-31: 2,2352017-03-31: 2,2652018-03-31: 2,2752019-03-31: 2,2752020-03-31: 2,2702021-03-31: 2,2252022-03-31: 2,2802023-03-31: 2,3702024-03-31: 2,3252025-03-31: 2,4152026-03-31: 2,440 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 1,790 to 2,440 · axis starts at 1,712

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

230
1652152652010-03-31: 1752011-03-31: 1752012-03-31: 1902013-03-31: 2152014-03-31: 2202015-03-31: 2352016-03-31: 2402017-03-31: 2352018-03-31: 2202019-03-31: 2402020-03-31: 2352021-03-31: 2502022-03-31: 2402023-03-31: 2502024-03-31: 2552025-03-31: 2452026-03-31: 230 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 175 to 255 · axis starts at 165

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

60
37.65062.42010-03-31: 402011-03-31: 402012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 402015-03-31: 402016-03-31: 402017-03-31: 402018-03-31: 402019-03-31: 452020-03-31: 502021-03-31: 452022-03-31: 552023-03-31: 552024-03-31: 602025-03-31: 602026-03-31: 60 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 40 to 60 · axis starts at 37.6

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

1,360
9581,2281,4972010-03-31: 1,0602011-03-31: 1,0102012-03-31: 1,0802013-03-31: 1,1502014-03-31: 1,2202015-03-31: 1,2752016-03-31: 1,2902017-03-31: 1,3152018-03-31: 1,3002019-03-31: 1,3202020-03-31: 1,3402021-03-31: 1,3302022-03-31: 1,3902023-03-31: 1,4452024-03-31: 1,3802025-03-31: 1,3752026-03-31: 1,360 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 1,010 to 1,445 · axis starts at 958

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

95
55.877.599.22010-03-31: 702011-03-31: 602012-03-31: 652013-03-31: 702014-03-31: 752015-03-31: 752016-03-31: 802017-03-31: 802018-03-31: 852019-03-31: 802020-03-31: 852021-03-31: 852022-03-31: 852023-03-31: 852024-03-31: 902025-03-31: 902026-03-31: 95 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 60 to 95 · axis starts at 55.8

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

4,570
4,1524,5054,8582010-03-31: 4,2902011-03-31: 4,2202012-03-31: 4,3652013-03-31: 4,2752014-03-31: 4,4802015-03-31: 4,7902016-03-31: 4,4652017-03-31: 4,6202018-03-31: 4,6352019-03-31: 4,6502020-03-31: 4,5852021-03-31: 4,6302022-03-31: 4,7352023-03-31: 4,6352024-03-31: 4,5652025-03-31: 4,4702026-03-31: 4,570 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 4,220 to 4,790 · axis starts at 4,152

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

475
3013984942010-03-31: 3202011-03-31: 3252012-03-31: 3302013-03-31: 3252014-03-31: 3702015-03-31: 3852016-03-31: 4202017-03-31: 4302018-03-31: 4352019-03-31: 4202020-03-31: 4252021-03-31: 3952022-03-31: 3902023-03-31: 4152024-03-31: 4302025-03-31: 4452026-03-31: 475 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 320 to 475 · axis starts at 301

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

50
32.64557.42010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 402012-03-31: 352013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 402015-03-31: 402016-03-31: 402017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 552019-03-31: 552020-03-31: 552021-03-31: 552022-03-31: 502023-03-31: 502024-03-31: 402025-03-31: 502026-03-31: 50 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 35 to 55 · axis starts at 32.6

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

49,165
39k46k53k2010-03-31: 41k2011-03-31: 40k2012-03-31: 41k2013-03-31: 42k2014-03-31: 43k2015-03-31: 46k2016-03-31: 47k2017-03-31: 49k2018-03-31: 51k2019-03-31: 51k2020-03-31: 50k2021-03-31: 50k2022-03-31: 49k2023-03-31: 48k2024-03-31: 48k2025-03-31: 49k2026-03-31: 49k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 40k to 51k · axis starts at 39k

ONS, UK Business Counts - local units, published 24 September 2026

41,589
11k28k45k1998-12-31: 14k1999-12-31: 15k2000-12-31: 16k2001-12-31: 18k2002-12-31: 18k2003-12-31: 18k2004-12-31: 20k2005-12-31: 21k2006-12-31: 22k2007-12-31: 23k2008-12-31: 23k2009-12-31: 23k2010-12-31: 24k2011-12-31: 24k2012-12-31: 25k2013-12-31: 26k2014-12-31: 28k2015-12-31: 28k2016-12-31: 30k2017-12-31: 31k2018-12-31: 32k2019-12-31: 34k2020-12-31: 32k2021-12-31: 34k2022-12-31: 38k2023-12-31: 42k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 14k to 42k · axis starts at 11k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Cheshire

Cheshire East · Cheshire West and Chester · Warrington