The Datum Report

Sub-region

West Central Scotland

What we think is happening

Businesses employing 0 to 4 people in West Central Scotland has been rising.

rising · strong confidence · formed 5 October 2026 · how we reached this

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in West Central Scotland has been weakening.

strong confidence · 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 39,285 +1,545 in the top 2% of 46
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 5.9% +1.0 in the top 7% of 45

Moving with the rest of the country

Shown separately because these say something about the country rather than about West Central Scotland.

By subject

Every figure published for West Central 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
7.0%
4.96.27.52020-03-31: 6.82020-06-30: 7.12020-09-30: 7.22020-12-31: 6.92021-03-31: 6.12021-06-30: 6.22021-09-30: 6.32021-12-31: 5.62022-03-31: 6.52022-06-30: 5.92022-09-30: 5.82022-12-31: 6.42023-03-31: 5.52023-06-30: 5.72023-09-30: 5.82023-12-31: 5.12024-03-31: 5.62024-06-30: 6.12024-09-30: 6.22024-12-31: 6.92025-03-31: 7.02025-06-30: 6.72025-09-30: 7.32025-12-31: 7.22026-03-31: 7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.1 to 7.3 · axis starts at 4.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.0, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
69.9%
69.171.874.52020-03-31: 70.42020-06-30: 70.22020-09-30: 70.92020-12-31: 71.32021-03-31: 70.62021-06-30: 69.62021-09-30: 70.12021-12-31: 70.52022-03-31: 72.22022-06-30: 72.92022-09-30: 72.32022-12-31: 72.12023-03-31: 72.22023-06-30: 72.72023-09-30: 73.92023-12-31: 72.12024-03-31: 70.92024-06-30: 71.12024-09-30: 69.92024-12-31: 70.42025-03-31: 70.22025-06-30: 70.12025-09-30: 70.72025-12-31: 70.92026-03-31: 69.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 69.6 to 73.9 · axis starts at 69.1

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
5.9%
2.04.16.32020-03-31: 4.02020-06-30: 4.42020-09-30: 4.12020-12-31: 4.82021-03-31: 5.12021-06-30: 5.52021-09-30: 4.72021-12-31: 3.92022-03-31: 3.32022-06-30: 2.42022-09-30: 2.62022-12-31: 3.22023-03-31: 3.42023-06-30: 3.02023-09-30: 3.02024-03-31: 3.62024-06-30: 3.52024-09-30: 3.42024-12-31: 3.02025-06-30: 4.12025-09-30: 4.72025-12-31: 4.92026-03-31: 5.9 2020-03 2026-03
23 monthly readings · 2.4 to 5.9 · axis starts at 2.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.0, basis not documented by the producer
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

25.7%
23.325.728.12020-03-31: 26.62020-06-30: 26.52020-09-30: 26.12020-12-31: 25.12021-03-31: 25.62021-06-30: 26.32021-09-30: 26.52021-12-31: 26.62022-03-31: 25.42022-06-30: 25.32022-09-30: 25.82022-12-31: 25.62023-03-31: 25.22023-06-30: 25.12023-09-30: 23.72023-12-31: 25.42024-03-31: 26.42024-06-30: 26.32024-09-30: 27.62024-12-31: 27.52025-03-31: 27.52025-06-30: 27.02025-09-30: 25.92025-12-31: 25.52026-03-31: 25.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 23.7 to 27.6 · axis starts at 23.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.6, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
39,285
31k55k80k2020-01-31: 39k2020-02-29: 40k2020-03-31: 40k2020-04-30: 63k2020-05-31: 72k2020-06-30: 72k2020-07-31: 75k2020-08-31: 75k2020-09-30: 73k2020-10-31: 70k2020-11-30: 70k2020-12-31: 69k2021-01-31: 69k2021-02-28: 70k2021-03-31: 70k2021-04-30: 69k2021-05-31: 65k2021-06-30: 61k2021-07-31: 60k2021-08-31: 58k2021-09-30: 54k2021-10-31: 51k2021-11-30: 50k2021-12-31: 48k2022-01-31: 47k2022-02-28: 47k2022-03-31: 45k2022-04-30: 43k2022-05-31: 41k2022-06-30: 40k2022-07-31: 40k2022-08-31: 40k2022-09-30: 39k2022-10-31: 38k2022-11-30: 39k2022-12-31: 39k2023-01-31: 38k2023-02-28: 39k2023-03-31: 40k2023-04-30: 41k2023-05-31: 39k2023-06-30: 39k2023-07-31: 40k2023-08-31: 39k2023-09-30: 38k2023-10-31: 37k2023-11-30: 38k2023-12-31: 38k2024-01-31: 37k2024-02-29: 38k2024-03-31: 39k2024-04-30: 38k2024-05-31: 38k2024-06-30: 39k2024-07-31: 42k2024-08-31: 42k2024-09-30: 41k2024-10-31: 40k2024-11-30: 39k2024-12-31: 38k2025-01-31: 38k2025-02-28: 39k2025-03-31: 38k2025-04-30: 37k2025-05-31: 37k2025-06-30: 37k2025-07-31: 37k2025-08-31: 37k2025-09-30: 36k2025-10-31: 36k2025-11-30: 36k2025-12-31: 35k2026-01-31: 36k2026-02-28: 37k2026-03-31: 38k2026-04-30: 38k2026-05-31: 38k2026-06-30: 38k2026-07-31: 38k2026-08-31: 39k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 35k to 75k · axis starts at 31k

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

3.8%
3.53.63.82026-01-31: 3.52026-02-28: 3.62026-03-31: 3.72026-04-30: 3.72026-05-31: 3.72026-06-30: 3.72026-07-31: 3.72026-08-31: 3.8 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.5 to 3.8 · axis starts at 3.5

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%
27.933.038.12020-03-31: 28.92020-06-30: 29.22020-09-30: 29.32020-12-31: 31.12021-03-31: 33.12021-06-30: 33.62021-09-30: 34.82021-12-31: 35.42022-03-31: 35.42022-06-30: 36.12022-09-30: 35.82022-12-31: 35.22023-03-31: 33.52023-06-30: 33.42023-09-30: 33.82023-12-31: 30.22024-03-31: 31.52024-06-30: 30.72024-09-30: 33.92024-12-31: 35.32025-03-31: 35.02025-06-30: 37.12025-09-30: 34.62025-12-31: 35.92026-03-31: 37.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 28.9 to 37.1 · axis starts at 27.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.6, basis not documented by the producer

16.0%
14.418.221.92020-03-31: 17.92020-06-30: 16.02020-09-30: 15.22020-12-31: 16.92021-03-31: 16.72021-06-30: 18.82021-09-30: 19.42021-12-31: 16.82022-03-31: 17.52022-06-30: 15.72022-09-30: 15.72022-12-31: 16.52023-03-31: 16.32023-06-30: 17.32023-09-30: 17.72023-12-31: 21.22024-06-30: 17.42024-09-30: 17.32024-12-31: 16.52025-03-31: 17.22025-06-30: 17.92025-09-30: 18.52025-12-31: 17.32026-03-31: 16 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 15.2 to 21.2 · axis starts at 14.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.7, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

11.4%
7.610.112.62020-03-31: 11.52020-06-30: 11.42020-09-30: 12.02020-12-31: 11.92021-03-31: 11.72021-06-30: 11.82021-09-30: 11.52021-12-31: 12.12022-03-31: 10.82022-06-30: 10.32022-09-30: 9.82022-12-31: 8.62023-03-31: 8.12023-06-30: 8.72023-09-30: 9.72023-12-31: 9.12024-03-31: 9.12024-06-30: 9.62024-09-30: 9.02024-12-31: 9.42025-03-31: 10.42025-06-30: 9.32025-09-30: 9.82025-12-31: 10.92026-03-31: 11.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 8.1 to 12.1 · axis starts at 7.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.3, basis not documented by the producer

25.6%
23.327.531.72020-03-31: 30.32020-06-30: 30.82020-09-30: 29.42020-12-31: 27.52021-03-31: 25.52021-06-30: 24.82021-09-30: 24.12021-12-31: 25.32022-03-31: 25.22022-06-30: 25.02022-09-30: 24.52022-12-31: 24.22023-03-31: 27.32023-06-30: 27.72023-09-30: 28.22023-12-31: 28.62024-03-31: 292024-06-30: 29.52024-09-30: 27.12024-12-31: 27.72025-03-31: 27.02025-06-30: 26.52025-09-30: 27.32025-12-31: 26.72026-03-31: 25.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 24.1 to 30.8 · axis starts at 23.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.2, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 1
£22,409
7,63716k24k1997-12-31: 9,2201998-12-31: 9,4041999-12-31: 9,9392000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 14k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 15k2012-12-31: 15k2013-12-31: 15k2014-12-31: 16k2015-12-31: 16k2016-12-31: 17k2017-12-31: 17k2018-12-31: 17k2019-12-31: 18k2020-12-31: 18k2021-12-31: 19k2022-12-31: 20k2023-12-31: 21k2024-12-31: 22k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,220 to 22k · axis starts at 7,637

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2026
42,150
29k36k44k2010-03-31: 31k2011-03-31: 31k2012-03-31: 32k2013-03-31: 32k2014-03-31: 34k2015-03-31: 36k2016-03-31: 38k2017-03-31: 39k2018-03-31: 39k2019-03-31: 40k2020-03-31: 41k2021-03-31: 41k2022-03-31: 41k2023-03-31: 40k2024-03-31: 41k2025-03-31: 41k2026-03-31: 42k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 31k to 42k · axis starts at 29k

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises, published 24 September 2026

31,055
20k26k32k2010-03-31: 21k2011-03-31: 22k2012-03-31: 23k2013-03-31: 22k2014-03-31: 23k2015-03-31: 26k2016-03-31: 27k2017-03-31: 29k2018-03-31: 29k2019-03-31: 29k2020-03-31: 30k2021-03-31: 30k2022-03-31: 30k2023-03-31: 29k2024-03-31: 30k2025-03-31: 30k2026-03-31: 31k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 21k to 31k · axis starts at 20k

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

3,160
2,3262,7883,2492010-03-31: 2,4752011-03-31: 2,4152012-03-31: 2,5152013-03-31: 2,6352014-03-31: 2,7352015-03-31: 2,8802016-03-31: 2,8352017-03-31: 2,9302018-03-31: 2,9652019-03-31: 2,9302020-03-31: 2,9102021-03-31: 2,8952022-03-31: 2,9502023-03-31: 2,9602024-03-31: 3,0402025-03-31: 3,0452026-03-31: 3,160 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 2,415 to 3,160 · axis starts at 2,326

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

280
2502783052010-03-31: 2552011-03-31: 2752012-03-31: 2552013-03-31: 2602014-03-31: 2552015-03-31: 2552016-03-31: 2652017-03-31: 2902018-03-31: 2802019-03-31: 3002020-03-31: 2902021-03-31: 2802022-03-31: 2752023-03-31: 2802024-03-31: 2652025-03-31: 2752026-03-31: 280 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 255 to 300 · axis starts at 250

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

70
41.46078.62010-03-31: 502011-03-31: 452012-03-31: 552013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 502015-03-31: 602016-03-31: 552017-03-31: 552018-03-31: 552019-03-31: 552020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 602022-03-31: 652023-03-31: 602024-03-31: 652025-03-31: 752026-03-31: 70 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 45 to 75 · axis starts at 41.4

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

1,465
1,1441,3581,5712010-03-31: 1,2752011-03-31: 1,1852012-03-31: 1,2202013-03-31: 1,3102014-03-31: 1,3552015-03-31: 1,3602016-03-31: 1,3802017-03-31: 1,3852018-03-31: 1,4152019-03-31: 1,4402020-03-31: 1,4602021-03-31: 1,4802022-03-31: 1,4952023-03-31: 1,5302024-03-31: 1,4802025-03-31: 1,4702026-03-31: 1,465 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 1,185 to 1,530 · axis starts at 1,144

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

90
7287.51032010-03-31: 1002011-03-31: 852012-03-31: 852013-03-31: 1002014-03-31: 952015-03-31: 852016-03-31: 902017-03-31: 902018-03-31: 952019-03-31: 852020-03-31: 852021-03-31: 752022-03-31: 852023-03-31: 852024-03-31: 802025-03-31: 802026-03-31: 90 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 75 to 100 · axis starts at 72

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

5,465
4,4585,0885,7172010-03-31: 4,6352011-03-31: 4,5802012-03-31: 4,8302013-03-31: 4,8202014-03-31: 5,1802015-03-31: 5,5352016-03-31: 5,3552017-03-31: 5,2802018-03-31: 5,3552019-03-31: 5,4502020-03-31: 5,3952021-03-31: 5,4102022-03-31: 5,5152023-03-31: 5,5952024-03-31: 5,4502025-03-31: 5,4102026-03-31: 5,465 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 4,580 to 5,595 · axis starts at 4,458

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

510
4484825172010-03-31: 4602011-03-31: 4602012-03-31: 4802013-03-31: 4552014-03-31: 4852015-03-31: 5002016-03-31: 4852017-03-31: 4702018-03-31: 4752019-03-31: 4852020-03-31: 5102021-03-31: 4602022-03-31: 4652023-03-31: 4852024-03-31: 4902025-03-31: 4852026-03-31: 510 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 455 to 510 · axis starts at 448

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

50
42.65567.42010-03-31: 452011-03-31: 602012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 502015-03-31: 452016-03-31: 552017-03-31: 552018-03-31: 652019-03-31: 602020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 652022-03-31: 602023-03-31: 652024-03-31: 602025-03-31: 552026-03-31: 50 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 45 to 65 · axis starts at 42.6

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

53,765
42k49k55k2010-03-31: 44k2011-03-31: 44k2012-03-31: 45k2013-03-31: 45k2014-03-31: 46k2015-03-31: 49k2016-03-31: 51k2017-03-31: 52k2018-03-31: 52k2019-03-31: 53k2020-03-31: 53k2021-03-31: 53k2022-03-31: 53k2023-03-31: 52k2024-03-31: 52k2025-03-31: 53k2026-03-31: 54k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 44k to 54k · axis starts at 42k

ONS, UK Business Counts - local units, published 24 September 2026

51,881
16k36k56k1998-12-31: 20k1999-12-31: 20k2000-12-31: 21k2001-12-31: 22k2002-12-31: 23k2003-12-31: 24k2004-12-31: 26k2005-12-31: 28k2006-12-31: 29k2007-12-31: 29k2008-12-31: 31k2009-12-31: 31k2010-12-31: 30k2011-12-31: 31k2012-12-31: 31k2013-12-31: 33k2014-12-31: 35k2015-12-31: 35k2016-12-31: 36k2017-12-31: 38k2018-12-31: 39k2019-12-31: 41k2020-12-31: 39k2021-12-31: 43k2022-12-31: 47k2023-12-31: 52k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 20k to 52k · axis starts at 16k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West Central Scotland

East Dunbartonshire · East Renfrewshire · Glasgow City · Inverclyde · North Lanarkshire · Renfrewshire · West Dunbartonshire