The Datum Report

Sub-region

Cheshire

What we think is happening

The job market in Cheshire has been weakening.

deteriorating · strong confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · 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
% 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
2025
41,485
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: 41k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 33k to 44k · axis starts at 32k

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises, published 14 October 2025

32,340
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: 32k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 26k to 35k · axis starts at 25k

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

2,415
1,7152,1022,4902010-03-31: 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: 2,415 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,790 to 2,415 · axis starts at 1,715

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

245
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: 245 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 175 to 255 · axis starts at 165

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

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: 60 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 40 to 60 · axis starts at 37.6

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

1,375
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: 1,375 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,010 to 1,445 · axis starts at 958

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

90
56.47593.62010-03-31: 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: 90 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 60 to 90 · axis starts at 56.4

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

4,470
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: 4,470 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,220 to 4,790 · axis starts at 4,152

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

445
3053824602010-03-31: 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: 445 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 320 to 445 · axis starts at 305

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

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: 50 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 35 to 55 · axis starts at 32.6

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

48,540
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: 49k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 40k to 51k · axis starts at 39k

ONS, UK Business Counts - local units, published 14 October 2025

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