The Datum Report

Sub-region

West Central Scotland

What we think is happening

The job market in West Central Scotland 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
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

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
2025
41,015
29k36k42k2010-03-31: 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: 41k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 31k to 41k · axis starts at 29k

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

30,125
20k26k31k2010-03-31: 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: 30k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 21k to 30k · axis starts at 20k

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

3,045
2,3392,7303,1212010-03-31: 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: 3,045 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,415 to 3,045 · axis starts at 2,339

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

275
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: 275 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 255 to 300 · axis starts at 250

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

75
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: 75 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 45 to 75 · axis starts at 41.4

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

1,470
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: 1,470 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,185 to 1,530 · axis starts at 1,144

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

80
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: 80 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 75 to 100 · axis starts at 72

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

5,410
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: 5,410 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,580 to 5,595 · axis starts at 4,458

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

485
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: 485 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 455 to 510 · axis starts at 448

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

55
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: 55 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 45 to 65 · axis starts at 42.6

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

52,600
43k49k55k2010-03-31: 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: 53k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 44k to 53k · axis starts at 43k

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

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