The Datum Report

Sub-region

Suffolk

What we think is happening

The job market in Suffolk 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 11.7% +1.5 in the top 1% of 45
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 17.8% -2.2 in the bottom 4% of 45
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 3.7% +1.0 in the top 7% of 45
% of economically inactive looking after family/home Apr 2025-Mar 2026 15.8% -1.6 in the bottom 7% of 45

By subject

Every figure published for Suffolk. 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
11.7%
9.110.712.42020-03-31: 11.22020-06-30: 11.92020-09-30: 11.12020-12-31: 11.72021-03-31: 11.72021-06-30: 11.22021-09-30: 12.12021-12-31: 11.42022-03-31: 11.82022-06-30: 11.32022-09-30: 9.92022-12-31: 9.42023-03-31: 10.92023-06-30: 11.12023-09-30: 11.72023-12-31: 11.42025-06-30: 9.72025-09-30: 10.92025-12-31: 10.22026-03-31: 11.7 2020-03 2026-03
20 monthly readings · 9.4 to 12.1 · axis starts at 9.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.3, basis not documented by the producer
5 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
79.0%
69.975.581.12020-03-31: 78.72020-06-30: 79.12020-09-30: 78.22020-12-31: 76.62021-03-31: 75.42021-06-30: 75.72021-09-30: 77.82021-12-31: 78.02022-03-31: 78.12022-06-30: 78.22022-09-30: 78.82022-12-31: 80.02023-03-31: 79.42023-06-30: 79.02023-09-30: 77.02023-12-31: 77.22024-03-31: 75.82024-06-30: 71.02024-09-30: 73.92024-12-31: 77.42025-03-31: 78.12025-06-30: 79.82025-09-30: 79.62025-12-31: 79.72026-03-31: 79 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 71.0 to 80.0 · axis starts at 69.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.9, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.7%
2.63.23.82025-12-31: 2.72026-03-31: 3.7 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 2.7 to 3.7 · axis starts at 2.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.5, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

18.0%
17.221.425.62020-03-31: 19.42020-06-30: 19.02020-09-30: 18.92020-12-31: 19.92021-03-31: 20.42021-06-30: 19.82021-09-30: 19.62021-12-31: 19.52022-03-31: 20.12022-06-30: 20.82022-09-30: 19.62022-12-31: 18.92023-03-31: 18.72023-06-30: 19.12023-09-30: 20.32023-12-31: 19.82024-03-31: 20.82024-06-30: 24.82024-09-30: 22.22024-12-31: 19.52025-03-31: 19.62025-06-30: 18.42025-09-30: 18.52025-12-31: 18.12026-03-31: 18 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18 to 24.8 · axis starts at 17.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.7, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
13,455
9,34517k25k2020-01-31: 11k2020-02-29: 11k2020-03-31: 11k2020-04-30: 19k2020-05-31: 23k2020-06-30: 22k2020-07-31: 23k2020-08-31: 23k2020-09-30: 23k2020-10-31: 22k2020-11-30: 22k2020-12-31: 22k2021-01-31: 22k2021-02-28: 23k2021-03-31: 23k2021-04-30: 23k2021-05-31: 21k2021-06-30: 19k2021-07-31: 19k2021-08-31: 18k2021-09-30: 17k2021-10-31: 16k2021-11-30: 16k2021-12-31: 15k2022-01-31: 15k2022-02-28: 15k2022-03-31: 14k2022-04-30: 14k2022-05-31: 13k2022-06-30: 12k2022-07-31: 12k2022-08-31: 12k2022-09-30: 12k2022-10-31: 12k2022-11-30: 12k2022-12-31: 13k2023-01-31: 12k2023-02-28: 12k2023-03-31: 13k2023-04-30: 13k2023-05-31: 12k2023-06-30: 12k2023-07-31: 12k2023-08-31: 12k2023-09-30: 12k2023-10-31: 12k2023-11-30: 12k2023-12-31: 12k2024-01-31: 13k2024-02-29: 13k2024-03-31: 13k2024-04-30: 13k2024-05-31: 13k2024-06-30: 13k2024-07-31: 14k2024-08-31: 14k2024-09-30: 13k2024-10-31: 13k2024-11-30: 13k2024-12-31: 13k2025-01-31: 13k2025-02-28: 13k2025-03-31: 13k2025-04-30: 13k2025-05-31: 13k2025-06-30: 13k2025-07-31: 13k2025-08-31: 13k2025-09-30: 13k2025-10-31: 13k2025-11-30: 13k2025-12-31: 13k2026-01-31: 13k2026-02-28: 14k2026-03-31: 14k2026-04-30: 13k2026-05-31: 13k2026-06-30: 13k2026-07-31: 13k2026-08-31: 13k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 11k to 23k · axis starts at 9,345

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

2.9%
2.82.93.02026-01-31: 2.82026-02-28: 32026-03-31: 32026-04-30: 2.92026-05-31: 2.92026-06-30: 2.92026-07-31: 2.92026-08-31: 2.9 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.8 to 3 · axis starts at 2.8

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.

31.3%
23.028.834.62020-09-30: 24.12020-12-31: 28.72021-03-31: 31.12021-06-30: 31.52021-09-30: 31.72021-12-31: 27.52022-03-31: 25.52022-06-30: 24.32024-03-31: 29.12024-06-30: 31.82024-09-30: 33.52024-12-31: 29.62025-09-30: 26.92025-12-31: 30.22026-03-31: 31.3 2020-09 2026-03
15 monthly readings · 24.1 to 33.5 · axis starts at 23.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.4, basis not documented by the producer
10 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

15.8%
14.620.826.92020-03-31: 25.72020-06-30: 23.52020-09-30: 23.42020-12-31: 23.72021-03-31: 21.42021-06-30: 18.82021-09-30: 18.12021-12-31: 19.02022-03-31: 19.82022-06-30: 21.32022-09-30: 21.92022-12-31: 19.52023-03-31: 22.42024-09-30: 16.72024-12-31: 16.12025-03-31: 17.92025-06-30: 18.12025-09-30: 16.92025-12-31: 17.42026-03-31: 15.8 2020-03 2026-03
20 monthly readings · 15.8 to 25.7 · axis starts at 14.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.8, basis not documented by the producer
5 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

17.8%
9.315.822.32021-03-31: 10.52021-06-30: 15.42021-09-30: 17.22021-12-31: 21.02022-09-30: 16.62022-12-31: 14.12023-03-31: 14.02025-03-31: 18.42025-06-30: 19.42025-09-30: 20.02025-12-31: 202026-03-31: 17.8 2021-03 2026-03
12 monthly readings · 10.5 to 21.0 · axis starts at 9.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.1, basis not documented by the producer
13 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

21.2%
17.320.624.02020-03-31: 19.02020-06-30: 21.72020-09-30: 20.12020-12-31: 19.62021-03-31: 20.52021-06-30: 18.52022-06-30: 23.32023-03-31: 22.12023-06-30: 21.42023-09-30: 21.82023-12-31: 18.02025-09-30: 23.22025-12-31: 20.52026-03-31: 21.2 2020-03 2026-03
14 monthly readings · 18.0 to 23.3 · axis starts at 17.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.5, basis not documented by the producer
11 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£24,802
8,24217k27k1997-12-31: 10k1998-12-31: 10k1999-12-31: 10k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 12k2002-12-31: 12k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 13k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 14k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 15k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 16k2011-12-31: 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: 20k2021-12-31: 21k2022-12-31: 22k2023-12-31: 23k2024-12-31: 25k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 10k to 25k · axis starts at 8,242

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
30,970
25k28k32k2010-03-31: 26k2011-03-31: 26k2012-03-31: 26k2013-03-31: 26k2014-03-31: 27k2015-03-31: 28k2016-03-31: 29k2017-03-31: 29k2018-03-31: 29k2019-03-31: 30k2020-03-31: 30k2021-03-31: 30k2022-03-31: 31k2023-03-31: 31k2024-03-31: 31k2025-03-31: 31k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 26k to 31k · axis starts at 25k

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

23,810
19k22k24k2010-03-31: 20k2011-03-31: 20k2012-03-31: 20k2013-03-31: 19k2014-03-31: 20k2015-03-31: 21k2016-03-31: 22k2017-03-31: 22k2018-03-31: 22k2019-03-31: 23k2020-03-31: 23k2021-03-31: 23k2022-03-31: 24k2023-03-31: 24k2024-03-31: 24k2025-03-31: 24k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 19k to 24k · axis starts at 19k

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

1,800
1,5201,7281,9352010-03-31: 1,6352011-03-31: 1,5602012-03-31: 1,6502013-03-31: 1,6652014-03-31: 1,7502015-03-31: 1,8252016-03-31: 1,7852017-03-31: 1,8002018-03-31: 1,8502019-03-31: 1,8752020-03-31: 1,8202021-03-31: 1,8102022-03-31: 1,8752023-03-31: 1,8952024-03-31: 1,8352025-03-31: 1,800 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,560 to 1,895 · axis starts at 1,520

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

145
1371521682010-03-31: 1452011-03-31: 1402012-03-31: 1452013-03-31: 1452014-03-31: 1452015-03-31: 1502016-03-31: 1552017-03-31: 1552018-03-31: 1652019-03-31: 1602020-03-31: 1602021-03-31: 1602022-03-31: 1602023-03-31: 1602024-03-31: 1402025-03-31: 145 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 140 to 165 · axis starts at 137

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

25
13.82026.22010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 25 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

1,005
8309351,0402010-03-31: 8702011-03-31: 8552012-03-31: 8502013-03-31: 9252014-03-31: 9452015-03-31: 9752016-03-31: 9802017-03-31: 9952018-03-31: 1,0102019-03-31: 1,0152020-03-31: 1,0202021-03-31: 9702022-03-31: 9802023-03-31: 1,0002024-03-31: 9902025-03-31: 1,005 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 850 to 1,020 · axis starts at 830

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

60
4257.5732010-03-31: 552011-03-31: 502012-03-31: 452013-03-31: 602014-03-31: 552015-03-31: 652016-03-31: 652017-03-31: 702018-03-31: 602019-03-31: 652020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 602022-03-31: 602023-03-31: 652024-03-31: 652025-03-31: 60 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 45 to 70 · axis starts at 42

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

3,740
3,4533,7203,9872010-03-31: 3,5502011-03-31: 3,5052012-03-31: 3,6852013-03-31: 3,6452014-03-31: 3,6902015-03-31: 3,9352016-03-31: 3,7452017-03-31: 3,7902018-03-31: 3,7602019-03-31: 3,8002020-03-31: 3,7252021-03-31: 3,6902022-03-31: 3,8452023-03-31: 3,8402024-03-31: 3,7402025-03-31: 3,740 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,505 to 3,935 · axis starts at 3,453

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

355
2373023682010-03-31: 2502011-03-31: 2552012-03-31: 2652013-03-31: 2702014-03-31: 2802015-03-31: 3002016-03-31: 2952017-03-31: 3202018-03-31: 3002019-03-31: 2902020-03-31: 3102021-03-31: 3202022-03-31: 3402023-03-31: 3452024-03-31: 3552025-03-31: 355 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 250 to 355 · axis starts at 237

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

30
13.222.531.82010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 252023-03-31: 302024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 30 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

36,555
31k34k37k2010-03-31: 32k2011-03-31: 31k2012-03-31: 31k2013-03-31: 31k2014-03-31: 33k2015-03-31: 34k2016-03-31: 34k2017-03-31: 35k2018-03-31: 35k2019-03-31: 36k2020-03-31: 36k2021-03-31: 36k2022-03-31: 37k2023-03-31: 37k2024-03-31: 37k2025-03-31: 37k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 31k to 37k · axis starts at 31k

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

22,978
7,62216k25k1998-12-31: 9,2671999-12-31: 9,6842000-12-31: 10k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 14k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 14k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 15k2012-12-31: 15k2013-12-31: 16k2014-12-31: 16k2015-12-31: 17k2016-12-31: 17k2017-12-31: 18k2018-12-31: 18k2019-12-31: 19k2020-12-31: 18k2021-12-31: 19k2022-12-31: 21k2023-12-31: 23k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 9,267 to 23k · axis starts at 7,622

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Suffolk

Babergh · East Suffolk · Ipswich · Mid Suffolk · West Suffolk