The Datum Report

Sub-region

North Eastern Scotland

What we think is happening

The job market in North Eastern 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
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 6.0% +0.8 in the top 4% of 45
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 25.0% -2.0 in the bottom 7% of 45
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 20.1% +1.3 in the top 7% of 45

By subject

Every figure published for North Eastern 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
6.0%
4.47.410.42020-03-31: 9.42020-06-30: 8.32020-09-30: 7.42020-12-31: 7.02021-03-31: 7.12021-06-30: 7.32021-09-30: 7.52021-12-31: 7.82022-03-31: 8.32022-06-30: 8.22022-09-30: 7.62022-12-31: 7.82023-03-31: 7.22023-06-30: 8.22023-09-30: 8.12023-12-31: 7.92024-03-31: 7.52024-06-30: 9.22024-09-30: 9.82024-12-31: 8.52025-03-31: 8.52025-06-30: 5.92025-09-30: 5.02025-12-31: 5.22026-03-31: 6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.0 to 9.8 · axis starts at 4.4

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

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
76.8%
73.277.181.02020-03-31: 79.92020-06-30: 79.32020-09-30: 76.32020-12-31: 75.72021-03-31: 75.02021-06-30: 73.92021-09-30: 76.02021-12-31: 75.42022-03-31: 74.42022-06-30: 74.82022-09-30: 74.92022-12-31: 74.82023-03-31: 76.72023-06-30: 77.82023-09-30: 77.32023-12-31: 79.62024-03-31: 80.02024-06-30: 79.72024-09-30: 80.22024-12-31: 77.32025-03-31: 76.62025-06-30: 75.32025-09-30: 75.42025-12-31: 76.62026-03-31: 76.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 73.9 to 80.2 · axis starts at 73.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.5, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
4.1%
1.94.06.22020-03-31: 2.32020-06-30: 2.42020-09-30: 3.52020-12-31: 4.92021-03-31: 5.82021-06-30: 5.72021-09-30: 4.92021-12-31: 4.42022-03-31: 4.22022-06-30: 5.02022-09-30: 5.52022-12-31: 5.12023-03-31: 4.32023-06-30: 2.82023-09-30: 2.82023-12-31: 2.92024-03-31: 3.22024-09-30: 3.02024-12-31: 3.22025-03-31: 3.32025-06-30: 3.62025-09-30: 3.22025-12-31: 3.82026-03-31: 4.1 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 2.3 to 5.8 · axis starts at 1.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.9, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

19.9%
16.619.822.92020-03-31: 18.22020-06-30: 18.82020-09-30: 20.92020-12-31: 20.42021-03-31: 20.42021-06-30: 21.72021-09-30: 20.12021-12-31: 21.12022-03-31: 22.32022-06-30: 21.32022-09-30: 20.72022-12-31: 21.22023-03-31: 19.82023-06-30: 19.92023-09-30: 20.52023-12-31: 18.02024-03-31: 17.42024-06-30: 17.62024-09-30: 17.22024-12-31: 20.22025-03-31: 20.82025-06-30: 21.92025-09-30: 22.12025-12-31: 20.42026-03-31: 19.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 17.2 to 22.3 · axis starts at 16.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.3, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
9,115
5,80212k18k2020-01-31: 6,9352020-02-29: 7,1252020-03-31: 7,1202020-04-30: 12k2020-05-31: 14k2020-06-30: 14k2020-07-31: 15k2020-08-31: 16k2020-09-30: 16k2020-10-31: 16k2020-11-30: 16k2020-12-31: 16k2021-01-31: 16k2021-02-28: 16k2021-03-31: 16k2021-04-30: 16k2021-05-31: 14k2021-06-30: 14k2021-07-31: 13k2021-08-31: 12k2021-09-30: 12k2021-10-31: 11k2021-11-30: 11k2021-12-31: 11k2022-01-31: 10k2022-02-28: 10k2022-03-31: 9,9152022-04-30: 9,1702022-05-31: 8,7302022-06-30: 8,4352022-07-31: 8,3702022-08-31: 8,3352022-09-30: 8,0902022-10-31: 8,0102022-11-30: 8,0652022-12-31: 8,0052023-01-31: 7,9252023-02-28: 8,1352023-03-31: 8,1902023-04-30: 8,2102023-05-31: 7,9052023-06-30: 7,9302023-07-31: 7,9102023-08-31: 7,7652023-09-30: 7,4602023-10-31: 7,3952023-11-30: 7,5102023-12-31: 7,4052024-01-31: 7,4502024-02-29: 7,6602024-03-31: 7,7252024-04-30: 7,6652024-05-31: 7,7652024-06-30: 7,7052024-07-31: 8,0552024-08-31: 8,1502024-09-30: 7,8352024-10-31: 7,7002024-11-30: 7,7702024-12-31: 7,6502025-01-31: 7,7902025-02-28: 8,1802025-03-31: 8,2452025-04-30: 8,2102025-05-31: 8,1302025-06-30: 8,2102025-07-31: 8,1702025-08-31: 8,1902025-09-30: 7,9502025-10-31: 7,9652025-11-30: 7,9602025-12-31: 7,9952026-01-31: 8,3252026-02-28: 8,7652026-03-31: 8,9052026-04-30: 8,8552026-05-31: 8,7802026-06-30: 8,8302026-07-31: 8,9052026-08-31: 9,115 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 6,935 to 16k · axis starts at 5,802

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

2.9%
2.72.82.92026-01-31: 2.72026-02-28: 2.82026-03-31: 2.82026-04-30: 2.82026-05-31: 2.82026-06-30: 2.82026-07-31: 2.82026-08-31: 2.9 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.7 to 2.9 · axis starts at 2.7

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.

25.0%
22.526.731.02020-03-31: 24.82020-06-30: 23.32020-09-30: 26.22020-12-31: 26.02021-03-31: 25.62021-06-30: 26.92021-09-30: 28.12021-12-31: 25.12022-03-31: 27.12022-06-30: 27.32022-09-30: 27.82022-12-31: 27.72023-03-31: 24.52023-06-30: 26.02023-09-30: 25.12023-12-31: 27.22024-03-31: 30.22024-06-30: 27.52024-09-30: 27.22024-12-31: 24.22025-03-31: 25.92025-06-30: 25.92025-09-30: 25.22025-12-31: 272026-03-31: 25 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 23.3 to 30.2 · axis starts at 22.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.0, basis not documented by the producer

11.2%
9.617.725.82020-03-31: 20.82020-06-30: 19.32020-09-30: 20.12020-12-31: 202021-03-31: 18.62021-06-30: 20.42021-09-30: 21.22021-12-31: 23.12022-03-31: 23.82022-06-30: 24.22022-09-30: 21.72022-12-31: 19.52023-03-31: 17.22023-06-30: 16.82023-09-30: 15.52023-12-31: 15.42024-03-31: 21.22024-06-30: 19.32024-09-30: 18.92024-12-31: 16.12025-03-31: 12.72025-06-30: 11.12025-09-30: 12.52025-12-31: 12.22026-03-31: 11.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 11.1 to 24.2 · axis starts at 9.6

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

20.1%
9.716.723.72020-03-31: 14.52020-06-30: 13.32020-09-30: 12.92020-12-31: 13.62021-03-31: 13.82021-06-30: 13.72021-09-30: 12.52021-12-31: 11.82022-03-31: 11.82022-06-30: 11.12022-09-30: 11.92022-12-31: 12.62023-03-31: 16.72023-06-30: 17.62023-09-30: 18.32023-12-31: 22.32024-03-31: 20.32024-06-30: 18.62024-09-30: 21.22024-12-31: 20.72025-03-31: 22.12025-06-30: 22.12025-09-30: 20.12025-12-31: 18.82026-03-31: 20.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 11.1 to 22.3 · axis starts at 9.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.4, basis not documented by the producer

27.9%
14.222.731.22020-03-31: 24.82020-06-30: 23.92020-09-30: 23.72020-12-31: 21.82021-03-31: 24.12021-06-30: 24.02021-09-30: 23.22021-12-31: 23.22022-03-31: 20.32022-06-30: 21.02022-09-30: 22.62022-12-31: 22.22023-03-31: 26.22023-06-30: 27.72023-09-30: 24.02023-12-31: 22.32024-03-31: 15.92024-12-31: 27.12025-03-31: 28.72025-06-30: 26.72025-09-30: 28.52025-12-31: 29.62026-03-31: 27.9 2020-03 2026-03
23 monthly readings · 15.9 to 29.6 · axis starts at 14.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.3, basis not documented by the producer
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£25,028
9,21918k27k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 11k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 12k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 13k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 16k2007-12-31: 17k2008-12-31: 18k2009-12-31: 18k2010-12-31: 18k2011-12-31: 19k2012-12-31: 20k2013-12-31: 21k2014-12-31: 22k2015-12-31: 22k2016-12-31: 21k2017-12-31: 21k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 22k2020-12-31: 21k2021-12-31: 21k2022-12-31: 22k2023-12-31: 24k2024-12-31: 25k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 25k · axis starts at 9,219

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
20,085
19k21k24k2010-03-31: 19k2011-03-31: 20k2012-03-31: 21k2013-03-31: 21k2014-03-31: 22k2015-03-31: 23k2016-03-31: 23k2017-03-31: 23k2018-03-31: 23k2019-03-31: 23k2020-03-31: 23k2021-03-31: 22k2022-03-31: 21k2023-03-31: 20k2024-03-31: 20k2025-03-31: 20k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 19k to 23k · axis starts at 19k

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

15,480
14k16k19k2010-03-31: 15k2011-03-31: 15k2012-03-31: 16k2013-03-31: 17k2014-03-31: 17k2015-03-31: 18k2016-03-31: 18k2017-03-31: 18k2018-03-31: 18k2019-03-31: 18k2020-03-31: 18k2021-03-31: 17k2022-03-31: 16k2023-03-31: 16k2024-03-31: 16k2025-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15k to 18k · axis starts at 14k

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

1,230
1,1391,2751,4112010-03-31: 1,1802011-03-31: 1,1652012-03-31: 1,2352013-03-31: 1,3452014-03-31: 1,3552015-03-31: 1,3852016-03-31: 1,3752017-03-31: 1,2952018-03-31: 1,2902019-03-31: 1,2652020-03-31: 1,2402021-03-31: 1,1852022-03-31: 1,2052023-03-31: 1,2202024-03-31: 1,2802025-03-31: 1,230 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,165 to 1,385 · axis starts at 1,139

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

140
1121281432010-03-31: 1202011-03-31: 1252012-03-31: 1252013-03-31: 1202014-03-31: 1302015-03-31: 1352016-03-31: 1352017-03-31: 1152018-03-31: 1252019-03-31: 1302020-03-31: 1252021-03-31: 1152022-03-31: 1252023-03-31: 1302024-03-31: 1352025-03-31: 140 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 115 to 140 · axis starts at 112

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

15
13.82026.22010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 252017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 15 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 25 · axis starts at 13.8

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

640
6146987812010-03-31: 6302011-03-31: 6402012-03-31: 6752013-03-31: 7152014-03-31: 7352015-03-31: 7502016-03-31: 7502017-03-31: 7652018-03-31: 7302019-03-31: 7252020-03-31: 7052021-03-31: 7002022-03-31: 7002023-03-31: 6952024-03-31: 6552025-03-31: 640 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 630 to 765 · axis starts at 614

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

50
38.247.556.82010-03-31: 452011-03-31: 402012-03-31: 452013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 502015-03-31: 552016-03-31: 502017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 452019-03-31: 402020-03-31: 452021-03-31: 452022-03-31: 502023-03-31: 502024-03-31: 502025-03-31: 50 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 40 to 55 · axis starts at 38.2

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

2,260
2,2372,3582,4782010-03-31: 2,3152011-03-31: 2,3302012-03-31: 2,3452013-03-31: 2,2902014-03-31: 2,3352015-03-31: 2,4552016-03-31: 2,3552017-03-31: 2,3602018-03-31: 2,3502019-03-31: 2,3452020-03-31: 2,3152021-03-31: 2,3302022-03-31: 2,3202023-03-31: 2,3202024-03-31: 2,3252025-03-31: 2,260 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,260 to 2,455 · axis starts at 2,237

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

245
2122522932010-03-31: 2752011-03-31: 2602012-03-31: 2552013-03-31: 2602014-03-31: 2702015-03-31: 2852016-03-31: 2752017-03-31: 2552018-03-31: 2402019-03-31: 2352020-03-31: 2502021-03-31: 2402022-03-31: 2202023-03-31: 2352024-03-31: 2452025-03-31: 245 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 220 to 285 · axis starts at 212

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

25
13.222.531.82010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 252017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 302021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 25 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 30 · axis starts at 13.2

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

24,435
23k26k28k2010-03-31: 24k2011-03-31: 24k2012-03-31: 25k2013-03-31: 26k2014-03-31: 27k2015-03-31: 28k2016-03-31: 28k2017-03-31: 27k2018-03-31: 27k2019-03-31: 27k2020-03-31: 27k2021-03-31: 26k2022-03-31: 26k2023-03-31: 25k2024-03-31: 25k2025-03-31: 24k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 24k to 28k · axis starts at 23k

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

18,352
6,98813k20k1998-12-31: 8,2371999-12-31: 8,2182000-12-31: 8,4122001-12-31: 9,0732002-12-31: 9,4722003-12-31: 9,5822004-12-31: 10k2005-12-31: 11k2006-12-31: 12k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 15k2009-12-31: 15k2010-12-31: 15k2011-12-31: 16k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 18k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 18k2016-12-31: 16k2017-12-31: 17k2018-12-31: 17k2019-12-31: 17k2020-12-31: 15k2021-12-31: 16k2022-12-31: 17k2023-12-31: 18k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 8,218 to 18k · axis starts at 6,988

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in North Eastern Scotland

Aberdeen City · Aberdeenshire