The Datum Report

Sub-region

Shropshire and Staffordshire

What we think is happening

The job market in Shropshire and Staffordshire has been getting stronger.

improving · established 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
Claimant count August 2026 33,970 +1,090 in the top 9% of 46
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 33.0% +2.2 in the top 9% of 45

By subject

Every figure published for Shropshire and Staffordshire. 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
9.1%
8.49.610.92020-03-31: 10.12020-06-30: 10.22020-09-30: 9.42020-12-31: 9.32021-03-31: 10.32021-06-30: 9.62021-09-30: 10.12021-12-31: 9.82022-12-31: 9.82023-03-31: 9.12023-06-30: 9.72023-09-30: 9.72024-03-31: 9.42024-06-30: 9.02024-09-30: 10.22024-12-31: 10.62025-03-31: 9.62025-06-30: 9.32025-09-30: 8.82025-12-31: 8.62026-03-31: 9.1 2020-03 2026-03
21 monthly readings · 8.6 to 10.6 · axis starts at 8.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.2, basis not documented by the producer
4 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
77.8%
75.278.281.32020-03-31: 77.92020-06-30: 77.62020-09-30: 76.42020-12-31: 76.62021-03-31: 75.92021-06-30: 75.82021-09-30: 76.12021-12-31: 76.42022-03-31: 77.02022-06-30: 78.22022-09-30: 78.62022-12-31: 78.52023-03-31: 78.42023-06-30: 78.42023-09-30: 79.22023-12-31: 79.82024-03-31: 80.72024-06-30: 78.62024-09-30: 77.92024-12-31: 76.82025-03-31: 76.52025-06-30: 78.02025-09-30: 77.62025-12-31: 77.52026-03-31: 77.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 75.8 to 80.7 · axis starts at 75.2

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

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.5%
3.43.84.22025-12-31: 4.12026-03-31: 3.5 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 3.5 to 4.1 · axis starts at 3.4

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

19.3%
17.919.821.72020-03-31: 19.32020-06-30: 19.52020-09-30: 19.72020-12-31: 19.52021-03-31: 20.32021-06-30: 21.12021-09-30: 21.32021-12-31: 20.92022-03-31: 20.02022-06-30: 18.62022-09-30: 18.52022-12-31: 18.92023-03-31: 19.12023-06-30: 19.42023-09-30: 18.92023-12-31: 18.32024-06-30: 19.52024-09-30: 20.02024-12-31: 21.02025-03-31: 21.22025-06-30: 19.62025-09-30: 19.42025-12-31: 19.12026-03-31: 19.3 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 18.3 to 21.3 · axis starts at 17.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.6, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Claimant count
August 2026
33,970
22k41k60k2020-01-31: 25k2020-02-29: 26k2020-03-31: 27k2020-04-30: 45k2020-05-31: 56k2020-06-30: 54k2020-07-31: 55k2020-08-31: 56k2020-09-30: 55k2020-10-31: 53k2020-11-30: 53k2020-12-31: 52k2021-01-31: 51k2021-02-28: 54k2021-03-31: 53k2021-04-30: 52k2021-05-31: 49k2021-06-30: 46k2021-07-31: 45k2021-08-31: 43k2021-09-30: 41k2021-10-31: 39k2021-11-30: 38k2021-12-31: 37k2022-01-31: 36k2022-02-28: 36k2022-03-31: 35k2022-04-30: 34k2022-05-31: 32k2022-06-30: 32k2022-07-31: 31k2022-08-31: 31k2022-09-30: 31k2022-10-31: 31k2022-11-30: 31k2022-12-31: 31k2023-01-31: 31k2023-02-28: 32k2023-03-31: 33k2023-04-30: 34k2023-05-31: 32k2023-06-30: 32k2023-07-31: 32k2023-08-31: 32k2023-09-30: 31k2023-10-31: 31k2023-11-30: 32k2023-12-31: 32k2024-01-31: 32k2024-02-29: 33k2024-03-31: 34k2024-04-30: 34k2024-05-31: 34k2024-06-30: 34k2024-07-31: 37k2024-08-31: 37k2024-09-30: 36k2024-10-31: 36k2024-11-30: 35k2024-12-31: 34k2025-01-31: 35k2025-02-28: 35k2025-03-31: 35k2025-04-30: 34k2025-05-31: 34k2025-06-30: 34k2025-07-31: 33k2025-08-31: 33k2025-09-30: 33k2025-10-31: 33k2025-11-30: 32k2025-12-31: 32k2026-01-31: 33k2026-02-28: 34k2026-03-31: 34k2026-04-30: 33k2026-05-31: 33k2026-06-30: 33k2026-07-31: 33k2026-08-31: 34k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 25k to 56k · axis starts at 22k

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

3.3%
3.23.23.32026-01-31: 3.22026-02-28: 3.32026-03-31: 3.32026-04-30: 3.22026-05-31: 3.22026-06-30: 3.22026-07-31: 3.22026-08-31: 3.3 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.2 to 3.3 · axis starts at 3.2

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%
0.40.50.52025-12-31: 0.52026-03-31: 0.4 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 0.4 to 0.5 · axis starts at 0.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

33.0%
24.929.433.92020-06-30: 30.02021-03-31: 27.42021-09-30: 27.32021-12-31: 27.42022-03-31: 27.92022-06-30: 25.72025-12-31: 30.82026-03-31: 33 2020-06 2026-03
8 monthly readings · 25.7 to 33 · axis starts at 24.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.4, basis not documented by the producer
17 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

18.5%
17.718.118.62025-12-31: 17.82026-03-31: 18.5 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 17.8 to 18.5 · axis starts at 17.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.6, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

17.8%
17.318.319.32020-12-31: 17.62021-03-31: 17.62021-06-30: 17.52021-09-30: 17.82021-12-31: 18.52022-12-31: 19.02025-12-31: 19.12026-03-31: 17.8 2020-12 2026-03
8 monthly readings · 17.5 to 19.1 · axis starts at 17.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.5, basis not documented by the producer
17 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

15.8%
15.417.519.62025-12-31: 19.22026-03-31: 15.8 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 15.8 to 19.2 · axis starts at 15.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.4, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£22,837
8,32716k24k1997-12-31: 9,8821998-12-31: 10k1999-12-31: 11k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 12k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 14k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 15k2011-12-31: 15k2012-12-31: 15k2013-12-31: 16k2014-12-31: 16k2015-12-31: 17k2016-12-31: 17k2017-12-31: 17k2018-12-31: 18k2019-12-31: 19k2020-12-31: 19k2021-12-31: 19k2022-12-31: 20k2023-12-31: 22k2024-12-31: 23k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,882 to 23k · axis starts at 8,327

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
60,745
50k56k63k2010-03-31: 52k2011-03-31: 51k2012-03-31: 51k2013-03-31: 52k2014-03-31: 53k2015-03-31: 56k2016-03-31: 58k2017-03-31: 60k2018-03-31: 59k2019-03-31: 60k2020-03-31: 61k2021-03-31: 61k2022-03-31: 62k2023-03-31: 61k2024-03-31: 61k2025-03-31: 61k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 51k to 62k · axis starts at 50k

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

46,820
38k43k48k2010-03-31: 39k2011-03-31: 39k2012-03-31: 39k2013-03-31: 39k2014-03-31: 40k2015-03-31: 43k2016-03-31: 44k2017-03-31: 46k2018-03-31: 45k2019-03-31: 46k2020-03-31: 46k2021-03-31: 47k2022-03-31: 47k2023-03-31: 46k2024-03-31: 46k2025-03-31: 47k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 39k to 47k · axis starts at 38k

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

3,635
2,7633,2653,7672010-03-31: 3,0102011-03-31: 2,8602012-03-31: 3,0652013-03-31: 3,1452014-03-31: 3,3152015-03-31: 3,5002016-03-31: 3,4402017-03-31: 3,4952018-03-31: 3,4752019-03-31: 3,4552020-03-31: 3,4802021-03-31: 3,4452022-03-31: 3,6252023-03-31: 3,6702024-03-31: 3,6002025-03-31: 3,635 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,860 to 3,670 · axis starts at 2,763

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

340
2392953512010-03-31: 2502011-03-31: 2652012-03-31: 3002013-03-31: 2952014-03-31: 3052015-03-31: 3052016-03-31: 3252017-03-31: 3202018-03-31: 3302019-03-31: 3402020-03-31: 3302021-03-31: 3102022-03-31: 3202023-03-31: 3202024-03-31: 3152025-03-31: 340 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 250 to 340 · axis starts at 239

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

50
37.65062.42010-03-31: 602011-03-31: 502012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 552014-03-31: 502015-03-31: 502016-03-31: 502017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 552019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 402023-03-31: 502024-03-31: 502025-03-31: 50 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

1,960
1,5551,8122,0702010-03-31: 1,7002011-03-31: 1,6102012-03-31: 1,6052013-03-31: 1,7102014-03-31: 1,7502015-03-31: 1,8302016-03-31: 1,8652017-03-31: 1,8952018-03-31: 1,9052019-03-31: 1,9152020-03-31: 1,9052021-03-31: 1,9052022-03-31: 1,9552023-03-31: 2,0202024-03-31: 1,9702025-03-31: 1,960 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,605 to 2,020 · axis starts at 1,555

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

135
561021492010-03-31: 752011-03-31: 702012-03-31: 652013-03-31: 902014-03-31: 752015-03-31: 902016-03-31: 1152017-03-31: 1202018-03-31: 1202019-03-31: 1252020-03-31: 1102021-03-31: 1202022-03-31: 1352023-03-31: 1352024-03-31: 1402025-03-31: 135 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 65 to 140 · axis starts at 56

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

7,110
6,7917,3807,9692010-03-31: 7,0302011-03-31: 6,9052012-03-31: 7,1352013-03-31: 6,9452014-03-31: 7,2402015-03-31: 7,5602016-03-31: 7,1952017-03-31: 7,4552018-03-31: 7,5452019-03-31: 7,6152020-03-31: 7,6402021-03-31: 7,4152022-03-31: 7,8552023-03-31: 7,8052024-03-31: 7,4402025-03-31: 7,110 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 6,905 to 7,855 · axis starts at 6,791

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

635
4265506742010-03-31: 4852011-03-31: 4502012-03-31: 4652013-03-31: 4902014-03-31: 5252015-03-31: 5452016-03-31: 5552017-03-31: 5852018-03-31: 5902019-03-31: 5852020-03-31: 6202021-03-31: 5952022-03-31: 6252023-03-31: 6102024-03-31: 6502025-03-31: 635 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 450 to 650 · axis starts at 426

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

60
31.45068.62010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 402012-03-31: 452013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 402015-03-31: 452016-03-31: 452017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 552019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 602022-03-31: 652023-03-31: 602024-03-31: 602025-03-31: 60 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 35 to 65 · axis starts at 31.4

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

71,495
60k67k74k2010-03-31: 62k2011-03-31: 61k2012-03-31: 62k2013-03-31: 62k2014-03-31: 63k2015-03-31: 67k2016-03-31: 68k2017-03-31: 70k2018-03-31: 70k2019-03-31: 71k2020-03-31: 72k2021-03-31: 72k2022-03-31: 73k2023-03-31: 72k2024-03-31: 72k2025-03-31: 71k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 61k to 73k · axis starts at 60k

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

43,637
15k31k47k1998-12-31: 18k1999-12-31: 19k2000-12-31: 19k2001-12-31: 20k2002-12-31: 21k2003-12-31: 22k2004-12-31: 23k2005-12-31: 24k2006-12-31: 25k2007-12-31: 26k2008-12-31: 27k2009-12-31: 26k2010-12-31: 26k2011-12-31: 27k2012-12-31: 28k2013-12-31: 29k2014-12-31: 30k2015-12-31: 31k2016-12-31: 32k2017-12-31: 33k2018-12-31: 35k2019-12-31: 36k2020-12-31: 35k2021-12-31: 39k2022-12-31: 41k2023-12-31: 44k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 18k to 44k · axis starts at 15k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Shropshire and Staffordshire

Cannock Chase · East Staffordshire · Lichfield · Newcastle-under-Lyme · Shropshire · South Staffordshire · Stafford · Staffordshire Moorlands · Stoke-on-Trent · Tamworth · Telford and Wrekin