The Datum Report

Sub-region

South East Wales

What we think is happening

The job market in South East Wales 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
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 32.1% -2.6 in the bottom 2% of 45
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 25.6% +1.2 in the top 2% of 45

By subject

Every figure published for South East Wales. 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
6.3%
5.97.08.02020-03-31: 7.52020-06-30: 7.72020-09-30: 7.52020-12-31: 7.52021-03-31: 7.02021-06-30: 7.72021-09-30: 7.72021-12-31: 7.82022-03-31: 7.82022-06-30: 7.22022-09-30: 7.22022-12-31: 6.72023-03-31: 6.72023-06-30: 6.42023-09-30: 6.42023-12-31: 6.52024-03-31: 6.52024-06-30: 6.32024-09-30: 6.32024-12-31: 6.52025-03-31: 6.72025-06-30: 6.22025-09-30: 6.22025-12-31: 6.12026-03-31: 6.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.1 to 7.8 · axis starts at 5.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.7, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
71.7%
71.372.774.12020-03-31: 73.12020-06-30: 73.72020-09-30: 73.42020-12-31: 72.52021-03-31: 71.82021-06-30: 71.62021-09-30: 72.42021-12-31: 73.32022-03-31: 73.82022-06-30: 73.72022-09-30: 73.12022-12-31: 72.42023-03-31: 71.92023-06-30: 72.52023-09-30: 73.42023-12-31: 73.22024-03-31: 73.12024-06-30: 72.52024-09-30: 71.72024-12-31: 72.22025-03-31: 72.82025-06-30: 72.42025-09-30: 72.42025-12-31: 72.62026-03-31: 71.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 71.6 to 73.8 · axis starts at 71.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.4, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.6%
2.43.64.92020-03-31: 3.82020-06-30: 3.42020-09-30: 3.72020-12-31: 4.02021-03-31: 4.22021-06-30: 4.62021-09-30: 4.12021-12-31: 4.22022-03-31: 3.82022-06-30: 3.22022-09-30: 2.72024-09-30: 3.12025-06-30: 4.02025-09-30: 4.42025-12-31: 42026-03-31: 3.6 2020-03 2026-03
16 monthly readings · 2.7 to 4.6 · axis starts at 2.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.7, basis not documented by the producer
9 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

25.6%
22.824.526.32020-03-31: 24.02020-06-30: 23.62020-09-30: 23.82020-12-31: 24.52021-03-31: 25.12021-06-30: 24.92021-09-30: 24.52021-12-31: 23.52022-03-31: 23.32022-06-30: 23.92022-09-30: 24.92022-12-31: 25.72023-03-31: 25.82023-06-30: 24.72023-09-30: 23.12023-12-31: 23.52024-03-31: 23.92024-06-30: 24.92024-09-30: 26.02024-12-31: 25.12025-03-31: 24.42025-06-30: 24.52025-09-30: 24.32025-12-31: 24.42026-03-31: 25.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 23.1 to 26.0 · axis starts at 22.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.3, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
35,215
27k46k66k2020-01-31: 31k2020-02-29: 32k2020-03-31: 32k2020-04-30: 54k2020-05-31: 61k2020-06-30: 60k2020-07-31: 61k2020-08-31: 62k2020-09-30: 61k2020-10-31: 59k2020-11-30: 59k2020-12-31: 58k2021-01-31: 57k2021-02-28: 60k2021-03-31: 59k2021-04-30: 58k2021-05-31: 55k2021-06-30: 51k2021-07-31: 50k2021-08-31: 48k2021-09-30: 45k2021-10-31: 44k2021-11-30: 42k2021-12-31: 41k2022-01-31: 40k2022-02-28: 40k2022-03-31: 39k2022-04-30: 37k2022-05-31: 36k2022-06-30: 35k2022-07-31: 34k2022-08-31: 34k2022-09-30: 34k2022-10-31: 33k2022-11-30: 33k2022-12-31: 33k2023-01-31: 33k2023-02-28: 33k2023-03-31: 34k2023-04-30: 34k2023-05-31: 33k2023-06-30: 33k2023-07-31: 33k2023-08-31: 33k2023-09-30: 32k2023-10-31: 33k2023-11-30: 34k2023-12-31: 33k2024-01-31: 33k2024-02-29: 34k2024-03-31: 34k2024-04-30: 34k2024-05-31: 34k2024-06-30: 35k2024-07-31: 37k2024-08-31: 37k2024-09-30: 36k2024-10-31: 35k2024-11-30: 35k2024-12-31: 35k2025-01-31: 35k2025-02-28: 35k2025-03-31: 35k2025-04-30: 34k2025-05-31: 34k2025-06-30: 34k2025-07-31: 33k2025-08-31: 34k2025-09-30: 34k2025-10-31: 34k2025-11-30: 34k2025-12-31: 33k2026-01-31: 34k2026-02-28: 35k2026-03-31: 35k2026-04-30: 34k2026-05-31: 34k2026-06-30: 34k2026-07-31: 34k2026-08-31: 35k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 31k to 62k · axis starts at 27k

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

3.6%
3.43.53.62026-01-31: 3.42026-02-28: 3.52026-03-31: 3.52026-04-30: 3.52026-05-31: 3.52026-06-30: 3.52026-07-31: 3.52026-08-31: 3.6 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.4 to 3.6 · axis starts at 3.4

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
0.9%
0.30.61.02025-12-31: 0.42026-03-31: 0.9 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 0.4 to 0.9 · axis starts at 0.3

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

32.1%
27.931.835.72020-03-31: 29.82020-06-30: 29.12020-09-30: 29.42020-12-31: 28.72021-03-31: 28.62021-06-30: 29.92021-09-30: 302021-12-31: 30.82022-03-31: 31.22022-06-30: 31.32022-09-30: 33.82022-12-31: 33.72023-03-31: 34.22023-06-30: 34.12023-09-30: 32.52023-12-31: 32.92024-03-31: 34.32024-06-30: 33.82024-09-30: 33.22024-12-31: 34.02025-03-31: 34.42025-06-30: 35.02025-09-30: 34.92025-12-31: 34.72026-03-31: 32.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 28.6 to 35.0 · axis starts at 27.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.8, basis not documented by the producer

13.8%
12.917.622.42020-03-31: 18.32020-06-30: 17.42020-09-30: 16.72020-12-31: 15.72021-03-31: 16.12021-06-30: 17.32021-09-30: 18.12021-12-31: 19.32022-03-31: 21.52022-06-30: 21.02022-09-30: 18.72022-12-31: 18.72023-03-31: 17.72023-06-30: 17.62023-09-30: 19.02023-12-31: 20.52024-03-31: 20.92024-06-30: 19.42024-09-30: 17.82024-12-31: 16.42025-03-31: 16.72025-06-30: 17.22025-09-30: 15.52025-12-31: 14.22026-03-31: 13.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.8 to 21.5 · axis starts at 12.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.1, basis not documented by the producer

13.6%
9.212.014.82020-03-31: 13.62020-06-30: 13.52020-09-30: 12.92020-12-31: 12.52021-03-31: 11.82021-06-30: 11.92021-09-30: 11.62021-12-31: 11.32022-03-31: 10.92022-06-30: 10.72022-09-30: 9.92022-12-31: 9.82023-03-31: 9.72023-06-30: 9.82023-09-30: 10.92023-12-31: 11.92024-03-31: 11.92024-06-30: 11.72024-09-30: 12.32024-12-31: 14.22025-03-31: 13.82025-06-30: 13.42025-09-30: 14.02025-12-31: 13.22026-03-31: 13.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 9.7 to 14.2 · axis starts at 9.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.1, basis not documented by the producer

24.2%
21.826.230.62020-03-31: 25.92020-06-30: 27.32020-09-30: 28.62020-12-31: 28.92021-03-31: 29.82021-06-30: 29.12021-09-30: 28.52021-12-31: 28.42022-03-31: 27.32022-06-30: 27.32022-09-30: 26.82022-12-31: 26.52023-03-31: 26.02023-06-30: 24.82023-09-30: 24.62023-12-31: 23.32024-03-31: 22.72024-06-30: 25.62024-12-31: 26.42025-03-31: 25.82025-06-30: 24.12025-09-30: 23.92025-12-31: 25.42026-03-31: 24.2 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 22.7 to 29.8 · axis starts at 21.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.6, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£21,525
7,52115k23k1997-12-31: 9,0211998-12-31: 9,0541999-12-31: 9,5572000-12-31: 10k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 12k2007-12-31: 13k2008-12-31: 13k2009-12-31: 13k2010-12-31: 13k2011-12-31: 14k2012-12-31: 14k2013-12-31: 14k2014-12-31: 15k2015-12-31: 15k2016-12-31: 16k2017-12-31: 16k2018-12-31: 17k2019-12-31: 17k2020-12-31: 18k2021-12-31: 18k2022-12-31: 19k2023-12-31: 20k2024-12-31: 22k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,021 to 22k · axis starts at 7,521

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
43,065
31k39k47k2010-03-31: 34k2011-03-31: 33k2012-03-31: 34k2013-03-31: 33k2014-03-31: 35k2015-03-31: 39k2016-03-31: 40k2017-03-31: 42k2018-03-31: 43k2019-03-31: 45k2020-03-31: 43k2021-03-31: 44k2022-03-31: 45k2023-03-31: 45k2024-03-31: 43k2025-03-31: 43k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 33k to 45k · axis starts at 31k

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

32,580
23k29k36k2010-03-31: 24k2011-03-31: 24k2012-03-31: 24k2013-03-31: 24k2014-03-31: 25k2015-03-31: 28k2016-03-31: 30k2017-03-31: 32k2018-03-31: 33k2019-03-31: 33k2020-03-31: 33k2021-03-31: 34k2022-03-31: 34k2023-03-31: 34k2024-03-31: 33k2025-03-31: 33k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 24k to 34k · axis starts at 23k

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

2,815
2,1732,5452,9172010-03-31: 2,3102011-03-31: 2,2452012-03-31: 2,3402013-03-31: 2,4402014-03-31: 2,5502015-03-31: 2,6352016-03-31: 2,6102017-03-31: 2,6502018-03-31: 2,6952019-03-31: 2,8252020-03-31: 2,6552021-03-31: 2,5952022-03-31: 2,7602023-03-31: 2,8452024-03-31: 2,7352025-03-31: 2,815 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,245 to 2,845 · axis starts at 2,173

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

295
1772423082010-03-31: 1902011-03-31: 2202012-03-31: 2352013-03-31: 2402014-03-31: 2152015-03-31: 2352016-03-31: 2402017-03-31: 2452018-03-31: 2602019-03-31: 2552020-03-31: 2752021-03-31: 2702022-03-31: 2702023-03-31: 2902024-03-31: 2802025-03-31: 295 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 190 to 295 · axis starts at 177

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

55
43.85056.22010-03-31: 452011-03-31: 452012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 502015-03-31: 452016-03-31: 452017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 502019-03-31: 552020-03-31: 552021-03-31: 502022-03-31: 452023-03-31: 452024-03-31: 552025-03-31: 55 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 45 to 55 · axis starts at 43.8

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

1,330
1,0921,2901,4882010-03-31: 1,1552011-03-31: 1,1302012-03-31: 1,1702013-03-31: 1,2402014-03-31: 1,3202015-03-31: 1,3602016-03-31: 1,3502017-03-31: 1,4102018-03-31: 1,3952019-03-31: 1,4002020-03-31: 1,4102021-03-31: 1,4002022-03-31: 1,4502023-03-31: 1,3802024-03-31: 1,3202025-03-31: 1,330 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,130 to 1,450 · axis starts at 1,092

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

80
55.877.599.22010-03-31: 602011-03-31: 652012-03-31: 652013-03-31: 752014-03-31: 702015-03-31: 702016-03-31: 852017-03-31: 702018-03-31: 852019-03-31: 852020-03-31: 902021-03-31: 852022-03-31: 952023-03-31: 902024-03-31: 952025-03-31: 80 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 60 to 95 · axis starts at 55.8

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

5,375
4,6645,4986,3312010-03-31: 4,8952011-03-31: 4,8252012-03-31: 5,0652013-03-31: 4,8902014-03-31: 5,1852015-03-31: 5,6852016-03-31: 5,4502017-03-31: 5,4302018-03-31: 5,5602019-03-31: 6,1702020-03-31: 5,6552021-03-31: 5,5502022-03-31: 5,7802023-03-31: 6,0702024-03-31: 5,6202025-03-31: 5,375 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,825 to 6,170 · axis starts at 4,664

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

485
3774425082010-03-31: 4152011-03-31: 3952012-03-31: 3902013-03-31: 3952014-03-31: 4052015-03-31: 4002016-03-31: 4302017-03-31: 4302018-03-31: 4352019-03-31: 4802020-03-31: 4652021-03-31: 4802022-03-31: 4752023-03-31: 4852024-03-31: 4952025-03-31: 485 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 390 to 495 · axis starts at 377

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

40
2237.5532010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 352016-03-31: 402017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 402019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 452021-03-31: 452022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 352024-03-31: 452025-03-31: 40 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25 to 50 · axis starts at 22

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

53,645
42k50k57k2010-03-31: 45k2011-03-31: 44k2012-03-31: 44k2013-03-31: 44k2014-03-31: 46k2015-03-31: 50k2016-03-31: 51k2017-03-31: 53k2018-03-31: 54k2019-03-31: 55k2020-03-31: 54k2021-03-31: 55k2022-03-31: 56k2023-03-31: 56k2024-03-31: 54k2025-03-31: 54k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 44k to 56k · axis starts at 42k

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

41,632
13k29k45k1998-12-31: 16k1999-12-31: 17k2000-12-31: 18k2001-12-31: 18k2002-12-31: 19k2003-12-31: 21k2004-12-31: 22k2005-12-31: 23k2006-12-31: 24k2007-12-31: 25k2008-12-31: 25k2009-12-31: 25k2010-12-31: 26k2011-12-31: 27k2012-12-31: 28k2013-12-31: 28k2014-12-31: 29k2015-12-31: 30k2016-12-31: 31k2017-12-31: 32k2018-12-31: 34k2019-12-31: 35k2020-12-31: 34k2021-12-31: 35k2022-12-31: 38k2023-12-31: 42k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 16k to 42k · axis starts at 13k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in South East Wales

Blaenau Gwent · Bridgend · Caerphilly · Cardiff · Merthyr Tydfil · Monmouthshire · Newport · Rhondda Cynon Taf · Torfaen · Vale of Glamorgan