The Datum Report

Sub-region

Southern Scotland

What we think is happening

The job market in Southern Scotland has been going both ways.

mixed · tentative 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 18,405 +685 in the top 1% of 46

By subject

Every figure published for Southern 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
9.1%
9.09.19.12025-12-31: 92026-03-31: 9.1 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 9 to 9.1 · axis starts at 9.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.3, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
75.9%
73.875.076.12025-12-31: 742026-03-31: 75.9 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 74 to 75.9 · axis starts at 73.8

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

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.0%
2.93.54.02025-12-31: 3.92026-03-31: 3 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 3 to 3.9 · axis starts at 2.9

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.

21.8%
21.722.423.12025-12-31: 232026-03-31: 21.8 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 21.8 to 23 · axis starts at 21.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.8, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Claimant count
August 2026
18,405
17k18k19k2026-01-31: 17k2026-02-28: 18k2026-03-31: 18k2026-04-30: 18k2026-05-31: 18k2026-06-30: 17k2026-07-31: 18k2026-08-31: 18k 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 17k to 18k · axis starts at 17k

ONS / DWP, Claimant count by sex and age, published 15 September 2026
72 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

3.2%
3.03.13.22026-01-31: 32026-02-28: 3.12026-03-31: 3.12026-04-30: 3.12026-05-31: 32026-06-30: 32026-07-31: 3.12026-08-31: 3.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3 to 3.2 · axis starts at 3.0

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.

37.1%
37.037.538.02025-12-31: 37.92026-03-31: 37.1 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 37.1 to 37.9 · axis starts at 37.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.5, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

14.6%
14.51515.52025-12-31: 15.42026-03-31: 14.6 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 14.6 to 15.4 · axis starts at 14.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.3, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

17.7%
15.316.618.02025-12-31: 15.62026-03-31: 17.7 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 15.6 to 17.7 · axis starts at 15.3

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.

20.3%
18.719.620.52025-12-31: 18.92026-03-31: 20.3 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 18.9 to 20.3 · axis starts at 18.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.7, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£23,505
7,37516k25k1997-12-31: 9,1031998-12-31: 9,3081999-12-31: 9,5662000-12-31: 10k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 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: 18k2020-12-31: 19k2021-12-31: 19k2022-12-31: 20k2023-12-31: 22k2024-12-31: 24k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,103 to 24k · axis starts at 7,375

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
30,130

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

22,525

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

2,040

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

130

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

15

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

950

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

45

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

4,155

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

250

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

20

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

37,045

ONS, UK Business Counts - local units, published 14 October 2025
15 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

23,472
8,82517k25k1998-12-31: 10k1999-12-31: 11k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 12k2002-12-31: 12k2003-12-31: 13k2004-12-31: 13k2005-12-31: 14k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 15k2011-12-31: 16k2012-12-31: 16k2013-12-31: 17k2014-12-31: 17k2015-12-31: 18k2016-12-31: 18k2017-12-31: 19k2018-12-31: 19k2019-12-31: 20k2020-12-31: 19k2021-12-31: 20k2022-12-31: 21k2023-12-31: 23k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 10k to 23k · axis starts at 8,825

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Southern Scotland

Dumfries and Galloway · East Ayrshire · Scottish Borders · South Ayrshire · South Lanarkshire