The Datum Report

Sub-region

East Central Scotland

What we think is happening

The job market in East Central Scotland 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 retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 13.1% -3.2 in the bottom 1% of 45
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 26.5% +4.7 in the top 1% of 45
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 6.7% -1.0 in the bottom 2% of 45
% of economically inactive looking after family/home Apr 2025-Mar 2026 16.5% +2.4 in the top 2% of 45
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 28.0% -2.3 in the bottom 4% of 45

By subject

Every figure published for East Central Scotland. 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
6.7%
6.47.89.22020-03-31: 8.92020-06-30: 8.72020-09-30: 7.82020-12-31: 7.62021-03-31: 8.12021-06-30: 7.52021-09-30: 7.92021-12-31: 8.52022-03-31: 8.52022-06-30: 8.72022-09-30: 8.22022-12-31: 7.32023-03-31: 7.12023-06-30: 7.52023-09-30: 8.12023-12-31: 8.22024-03-31: 8.62024-06-30: 8.82024-09-30: 8.62024-12-31: 8.22025-03-31: 7.72025-06-30: 7.92025-09-30: 7.32025-12-31: 7.72026-03-31: 6.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.7 to 8.9 · axis starts at 6.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.2, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
80.6%
73.878.282.62020-03-31: 76.42020-06-30: 75.92020-09-30: 74.82020-12-31: 74.72021-03-31: 75.02021-06-30: 74.82021-09-30: 76.12021-12-31: 77.72022-03-31: 78.12022-06-30: 79.42022-09-30: 79.32022-12-31: 78.12023-03-31: 78.62023-06-30: 79.02023-09-30: 80.02023-12-31: 79.42024-03-31: 77.62024-06-30: 76.82024-09-30: 76.82024-12-31: 78.32025-03-31: 79.62025-06-30: 80.82025-09-30: 81.72025-12-31: 81.62026-03-31: 80.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 74.7 to 81.7 · axis starts at 73.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.0, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
2.6%
1.73.04.32020-03-31: 2.92020-06-30: 3.32020-09-30: 3.72020-12-31: 3.92021-03-31: 3.52021-06-30: 3.42021-09-30: 2.62021-12-31: 2.52022-06-30: 2.42022-09-30: 2.22022-12-31: 2.12023-03-31: 2.02023-09-30: 3.22024-06-30: 4.02024-09-30: 3.62024-12-31: 3.12025-03-31: 2.72025-09-30: 1.92025-12-31: 22026-03-31: 2.6 2020-03 2026-03
20 monthly readings · 1.9 to 4.0 · axis starts at 1.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.9, basis not documented by the producer
5 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

17.2%
16.019.623.22020-03-31: 21.32020-06-30: 21.52020-09-30: 22.22020-12-31: 22.32021-03-31: 22.32021-06-30: 22.52021-09-30: 21.92021-12-31: 20.32022-03-31: 19.92022-06-30: 18.72022-09-30: 18.92022-12-31: 20.22023-03-31: 19.82023-06-30: 18.82023-09-30: 17.32023-12-31: 17.32024-03-31: 19.02024-06-30: 20.02024-09-30: 20.42024-12-31: 19.22025-03-31: 18.12025-06-30: 17.62025-09-30: 16.72025-12-31: 16.82026-03-31: 17.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.7 to 22.5 · axis starts at 16.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.9, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
20,010
14k28k42k2020-01-31: 17k2020-02-29: 17k2020-03-31: 17k2020-04-30: 31k2020-05-31: 38k2020-06-30: 37k2020-07-31: 38k2020-08-31: 39k2020-09-30: 37k2020-10-31: 36k2020-11-30: 37k2020-12-31: 36k2021-01-31: 36k2021-02-28: 37k2021-03-31: 38k2021-04-30: 37k2021-05-31: 34k2021-06-30: 31k2021-07-31: 30k2021-08-31: 29k2021-09-30: 26k2021-10-31: 25k2021-11-30: 23k2021-12-31: 22k2022-01-31: 22k2022-02-28: 21k2022-03-31: 20k2022-04-30: 19k2022-05-31: 18k2022-06-30: 18k2022-07-31: 18k2022-08-31: 18k2022-09-30: 18k2022-10-31: 17k2022-11-30: 17k2022-12-31: 18k2023-01-31: 17k2023-02-28: 18k2023-03-31: 18k2023-04-30: 19k2023-05-31: 18k2023-06-30: 18k2023-07-31: 18k2023-08-31: 18k2023-09-30: 17k2023-10-31: 17k2023-11-30: 17k2023-12-31: 17k2024-01-31: 17k2024-02-29: 18k2024-03-31: 18k2024-04-30: 18k2024-05-31: 18k2024-06-30: 18k2024-07-31: 19k2024-08-31: 19k2024-09-30: 18k2024-10-31: 18k2024-11-30: 18k2024-12-31: 17k2025-01-31: 18k2025-02-28: 19k2025-03-31: 18k2025-04-30: 18k2025-05-31: 18k2025-06-30: 18k2025-07-31: 18k2025-08-31: 18k2025-09-30: 17k2025-10-31: 17k2025-11-30: 18k2025-12-31: 18k2026-01-31: 18k2026-02-28: 19k2026-03-31: 19k2026-04-30: 19k2026-05-31: 19k2026-06-30: 19k2026-07-31: 19k2026-08-31: 20k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 17k to 39k · axis starts at 14k

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

2.8%
2.52.62.82026-01-31: 2.52026-02-28: 2.62026-03-31: 2.72026-04-30: 2.72026-05-31: 2.72026-06-30: 2.72026-07-31: 2.72026-08-31: 2.8 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.5 to 2.8 · axis starts at 2.5

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.

28.0%
20.025.731.42020-03-31: 23.22020-06-30: 24.12020-09-30: 26.92020-12-31: 26.52021-03-31: 25.52021-06-30: 23.32021-09-30: 21.12021-12-31: 21.62022-03-31: 22.42022-06-30: 23.12022-09-30: 29.12022-12-31: 29.92023-03-31: 27.72023-06-30: 28.32023-09-30: 22.92023-12-31: 25.52024-03-31: 28.72024-06-30: 27.42024-09-30: 27.52024-12-31: 26.22025-03-31: 26.12025-06-30: 28.42025-09-30: 28.62025-12-31: 30.32026-03-31: 28 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 21.1 to 30.3 · axis starts at 20.0

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

16.5%
13.216.018.82020-03-31: 17.02020-06-30: 17.72020-09-30: 15.82020-12-31: 15.72021-03-31: 16.72021-06-30: 16.22021-09-30: 17.02021-12-31: 16.72022-03-31: 17.42022-06-30: 18.32022-09-30: 16.62022-12-31: 17.02023-03-31: 17.22023-06-30: 17.52023-09-30: 18.12023-12-31: 15.42024-03-31: 14.02024-09-30: 15.02025-03-31: 14.82025-06-30: 13.82025-09-30: 14.42025-12-31: 14.12026-03-31: 16.5 2020-03 2026-03
23 monthly readings · 13.8 to 18.3 · axis starts at 13.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.3, basis not documented by the producer
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

13.1%
11.315.720.12020-03-31: 15.32020-06-30: 14.32020-09-30: 12.92020-12-31: 13.82021-03-31: 14.02021-06-30: 13.72021-09-30: 13.42021-12-31: 12.22022-03-31: 13.22022-06-30: 15.42022-09-30: 16.42022-12-31: 18.22023-03-31: 16.02023-06-30: 13.82023-09-30: 12.82023-12-31: 12.42024-03-31: 15.12024-06-30: 15.42024-09-30: 14.62024-12-31: 15.22025-03-31: 16.12025-06-30: 16.82025-09-30: 19.22025-12-31: 16.32026-03-31: 13.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 12.2 to 19.2 · axis starts at 11.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.9, basis not documented by the producer

26.5%
20.527.133.72020-03-31: 30.42020-06-30: 29.72020-09-30: 30.22020-12-31: 29.22021-03-31: 30.72021-06-30: 31.72021-09-30: 32.42021-12-31: 32.12022-03-31: 28.72022-06-30: 28.82022-09-30: 24.72024-03-31: 32.32024-06-30: 29.62024-09-30: 29.72024-12-31: 29.22025-03-31: 27.82025-06-30: 27.32025-09-30: 23.32025-12-31: 21.82026-03-31: 26.5 2020-03 2026-03
20 monthly readings · 21.8 to 32.4 · axis starts at 20.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.1, basis not documented by the producer
5 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£27,579
8,38719k30k1997-12-31: 10k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 11k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 14k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 16k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 18k2013-12-31: 18k2014-12-31: 19k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 20k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 22k2020-12-31: 22k2021-12-31: 23k2022-12-31: 24k2023-12-31: 26k2024-12-31: 28k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 10k to 28k · axis starts at 8,387

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
32,440
24k29k35k2010-03-31: 25k2011-03-31: 25k2012-03-31: 26k2013-03-31: 27k2014-03-31: 28k2015-03-31: 30k2016-03-31: 32k2017-03-31: 32k2018-03-31: 32k2019-03-31: 33k2020-03-31: 34k2021-03-31: 33k2022-03-31: 32k2023-03-31: 32k2024-03-31: 32k2025-03-31: 32k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25k to 34k · axis starts at 24k

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

23,910
17k22k26k2010-03-31: 18k2011-03-31: 18k2012-03-31: 19k2013-03-31: 19k2014-03-31: 20k2015-03-31: 22k2016-03-31: 24k2017-03-31: 24k2018-03-31: 24k2019-03-31: 25k2020-03-31: 25k2021-03-31: 24k2022-03-31: 24k2023-03-31: 23k2024-03-31: 23k2025-03-31: 24k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 18k to 25k · axis starts at 17k

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

2,310
1,7512,0822,4142010-03-31: 1,8752011-03-31: 1,8152012-03-31: 1,8852013-03-31: 1,9552014-03-31: 2,0952015-03-31: 2,1852016-03-31: 2,2252017-03-31: 2,2252018-03-31: 2,2402019-03-31: 2,2752020-03-31: 2,2652021-03-31: 2,2402022-03-31: 2,2502023-03-31: 2,3502024-03-31: 2,3502025-03-31: 2,310 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,815 to 2,350 · axis starts at 1,751

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

225
1792102412010-03-31: 1902011-03-31: 1852012-03-31: 1902013-03-31: 1902014-03-31: 1952015-03-31: 2052016-03-31: 2052017-03-31: 2202018-03-31: 2202019-03-31: 2202020-03-31: 2202021-03-31: 2102022-03-31: 2202023-03-31: 2302024-03-31: 2352025-03-31: 225 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 185 to 235 · axis starts at 179

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

60
37.65062.42010-03-31: 452011-03-31: 402012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 452014-03-31: 452015-03-31: 452016-03-31: 502017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 552019-03-31: 552020-03-31: 552021-03-31: 602022-03-31: 602023-03-31: 602024-03-31: 552025-03-31: 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

1,155
8251,0301,2352010-03-31: 8802011-03-31: 8652012-03-31: 9102013-03-31: 9902014-03-31: 1,0252015-03-31: 1,0352016-03-31: 1,0252017-03-31: 1,0552018-03-31: 1,1102019-03-31: 1,1052020-03-31: 1,1652021-03-31: 1,1602022-03-31: 1,1952023-03-31: 1,1902024-03-31: 1,1702025-03-31: 1,155 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 865 to 1,195 · axis starts at 825

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

95
6782.5982010-03-31: 852011-03-31: 752012-03-31: 752013-03-31: 752014-03-31: 752015-03-31: 752016-03-31: 802017-03-31: 702018-03-31: 802019-03-31: 752020-03-31: 852021-03-31: 752022-03-31: 752023-03-31: 752024-03-31: 852025-03-31: 95 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 70 to 95 · axis starts at 67

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

4,240
3,4783,9004,3222010-03-31: 3,6252011-03-31: 3,5602012-03-31: 3,7552013-03-31: 3,7002014-03-31: 3,9552015-03-31: 4,2402016-03-31: 4,0002017-03-31: 4,1352018-03-31: 4,1752019-03-31: 4,2352020-03-31: 4,1902021-03-31: 4,0752022-03-31: 4,2152023-03-31: 4,2152024-03-31: 4,1652025-03-31: 4,240 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,560 to 4,240 · axis starts at 3,478

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

415
2753524302010-03-31: 3152011-03-31: 3002012-03-31: 2902013-03-31: 3202014-03-31: 3102015-03-31: 3202016-03-31: 3252017-03-31: 3402018-03-31: 3552019-03-31: 3952020-03-31: 3802021-03-31: 3552022-03-31: 3502023-03-31: 3752024-03-31: 4102025-03-31: 415 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 290 to 415 · axis starts at 275

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

30
17.63042.42010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 252017-03-31: 302018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 402023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 30 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 40 · axis starts at 17.6

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

40,980
32k38k43k2010-03-31: 34k2011-03-31: 33k2012-03-31: 35k2013-03-31: 35k2014-03-31: 36k2015-03-31: 39k2016-03-31: 40k2017-03-31: 41k2018-03-31: 41k2019-03-31: 42k2020-03-31: 42k2021-03-31: 41k2022-03-31: 41k2023-03-31: 40k2024-03-31: 40k2025-03-31: 41k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 33k to 42k · axis starts at 32k

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

49,396
11k32k53k1998-12-31: 15k1999-12-31: 16k2000-12-31: 17k2001-12-31: 18k2002-12-31: 19k2003-12-31: 20k2004-12-31: 22k2005-12-31: 23k2006-12-31: 24k2007-12-31: 26k2008-12-31: 26k2009-12-31: 27k2010-12-31: 27k2011-12-31: 27k2012-12-31: 28k2013-12-31: 29k2014-12-31: 30k2015-12-31: 31k2016-12-31: 33k2017-12-31: 35k2018-12-31: 36k2019-12-31: 38k2020-12-31: 36k2021-12-31: 40k2022-12-31: 45k2023-12-31: 49k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 15k to 49k · axis starts at 11k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in East Central Scotland

City of Edinburgh · East Lothian · Falkirk · Midlothian · West Lothian