The Datum Report

Sub-region

West Midlands

What we think is happening

The job market in the West Midlands 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
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 27.4% -1.8 in the bottom 9% of 45

Moving with the rest of the country

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

By subject

Every figure published for West Midlands. 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
6.8%
6.27.89.32020-03-31: 8.92020-06-30: 9.02020-09-30: 8.42020-12-31: 8.12021-03-31: 7.82021-06-30: 7.32021-09-30: 7.22021-12-31: 7.02022-03-31: 6.72022-06-30: 6.52022-09-30: 6.82022-12-31: 7.12023-03-31: 7.62023-06-30: 7.92023-09-30: 7.92023-12-31: 8.02024-03-31: 7.32024-06-30: 7.52024-09-30: 7.22024-12-31: 7.12025-03-31: 7.52025-06-30: 7.32025-09-30: 7.22025-12-31: 72026-03-31: 6.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.5 to 9.0 · axis starts at 6.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.8, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
69.1%
68.369.670.82020-03-31: 68.92020-06-30: 70.02020-09-30: 69.62020-12-31: 69.72021-03-31: 70.52021-06-30: 69.82021-09-30: 69.82021-12-31: 69.82022-03-31: 70.02022-06-30: 69.32022-09-30: 68.92022-12-31: 69.22023-03-31: 68.62023-06-30: 69.82023-09-30: 70.32023-12-31: 70.52024-03-31: 69.62024-06-30: 69.72024-09-30: 69.72024-12-31: 69.52025-03-31: 70.02025-06-30: 70.12025-09-30: 70.62025-12-31: 69.22026-03-31: 69.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 68.6 to 70.6 · axis starts at 68.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.5, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
7.7%
5.56.77.92020-03-31: 7.32020-06-30: 7.02020-09-30: 6.72020-12-31: 6.92021-03-31: 6.92021-06-30: 7.32021-09-30: 7.32021-12-31: 7.12022-03-31: 6.62022-06-30: 6.52022-09-30: 6.82022-12-31: 6.32023-03-31: 6.72023-06-30: 6.72023-09-30: 6.62023-12-31: 6.72024-03-31: 5.82024-06-30: 5.92024-09-30: 6.02024-12-31: 6.52025-03-31: 6.32025-06-30: 6.72025-09-30: 7.42025-12-31: 7.62026-03-31: 7.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.8 to 7.7 · axis starts at 5.5

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

25.1%
23.525.126.82020-03-31: 25.72020-06-30: 24.72020-09-30: 25.42020-12-31: 25.22021-03-31: 24.32021-06-30: 24.72021-09-30: 24.72021-12-31: 24.92022-03-31: 25.02022-06-30: 25.92022-09-30: 26.02022-12-31: 26.12023-03-31: 26.52023-06-30: 25.22023-09-30: 24.72023-12-31: 24.42024-03-31: 26.12024-06-30: 25.92024-09-30: 25.82024-12-31: 25.72025-03-31: 25.32025-06-30: 24.92025-09-30: 23.82025-12-31: 25.12026-03-31: 25.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 23.8 to 26.5 · axis starts at 23.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.4, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
143,985
85k135k185k2020-01-31: 95k2020-02-29: 97k2020-03-31: 99k2020-04-30: 139k2020-05-31: 166k2020-06-30: 165k2020-07-31: 168k2020-08-31: 171k2020-09-30: 171k2020-10-31: 169k2020-11-30: 171k2020-12-31: 170k2021-01-31: 169k2021-02-28: 175k2021-03-31: 176k2021-04-30: 173k2021-05-31: 166k2021-06-30: 160k2021-07-31: 156k2021-08-31: 152k2021-09-30: 147k2021-10-31: 143k2021-11-30: 139k2021-12-31: 134k2022-01-31: 132k2022-02-28: 133k2022-03-31: 131k2022-04-30: 128k2022-05-31: 125k2022-06-30: 123k2022-07-31: 121k2022-08-31: 121k2022-09-30: 120k2022-10-31: 119k2022-11-30: 120k2022-12-31: 121k2023-01-31: 119k2023-02-28: 121k2023-03-31: 124k2023-04-30: 127k2023-05-31: 124k2023-06-30: 124k2023-07-31: 125k2023-08-31: 123k2023-09-30: 123k2023-10-31: 123k2023-11-30: 122k2023-12-31: 123k2024-01-31: 123k2024-02-29: 125k2024-03-31: 127k2024-04-30: 125k2024-05-31: 128k2024-06-30: 136k2024-07-31: 147k2024-08-31: 148k2024-09-30: 149k2024-10-31: 149k2024-11-30: 147k2024-12-31: 145k2025-01-31: 144k2025-02-28: 147k2025-03-31: 148k2025-04-30: 146k2025-05-31: 145k2025-06-30: 145k2025-07-31: 142k2025-08-31: 142k2025-09-30: 141k2025-10-31: 141k2025-11-30: 140k2025-12-31: 138k2026-01-31: 138k2026-02-28: 141k2026-03-31: 142k2026-04-30: 141k2026-05-31: 141k2026-06-30: 141k2026-07-31: 140k2026-08-31: 144k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 95k to 176k · axis starts at 85k

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

7.5%
7.17.37.52026-01-31: 7.12026-02-28: 7.32026-03-31: 7.42026-04-30: 7.32026-05-31: 7.32026-06-30: 7.32026-07-31: 7.32026-08-31: 7.5 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 7.1 to 7.5 · axis starts at 7.1

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
0.5%
0.20.30.52025-12-31: 0.22026-03-31: 0.5 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 0.2 to 0.5 · axis starts at 0.2

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

27.4%
18.825.432.12020-03-31: 20.12020-06-30: 20.72020-09-30: 20.92020-12-31: 21.62021-03-31: 22.82021-06-30: 22.52021-09-30: 23.42021-12-31: 21.52022-03-31: 21.92022-06-30: 22.52022-09-30: 23.62022-12-31: 23.52023-03-31: 25.72023-06-30: 25.62023-09-30: 28.32023-12-31: 30.82024-03-31: 30.52024-06-30: 30.72024-09-30: 28.42024-12-31: 28.42025-03-31: 28.72025-06-30: 28.82025-09-30: 29.12025-12-31: 29.22026-03-31: 27.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 20.1 to 30.8 · axis starts at 18.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.9, basis not documented by the producer

22.1%
21.225.830.32020-03-31: 29.42020-06-30: 28.82020-09-30: 28.22020-12-31: 27.02021-03-31: 25.42021-06-30: 23.02021-09-30: 22.52021-12-31: 23.32022-03-31: 23.92022-06-30: 26.12022-09-30: 26.12022-12-31: 26.42023-03-31: 25.62023-06-30: 26.12023-09-30: 25.22023-12-31: 24.92024-03-31: 23.62024-06-30: 24.72024-09-30: 24.92024-12-31: 23.72025-03-31: 25.02025-06-30: 23.92025-09-30: 23.62025-12-31: 22.82026-03-31: 22.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 22.1 to 29.4 · axis starts at 21.2

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

6.4%
5.17.08.92020-03-31: 8.02020-06-30: 8.52020-09-30: 7.92020-12-31: 7.82021-03-31: 8.02021-06-30: 8.22021-09-30: 7.72021-12-31: 7.42022-03-31: 7.52022-06-30: 6.72022-09-30: 6.72022-12-31: 6.52023-03-31: 5.52023-06-30: 6.02023-09-30: 6.12023-12-31: 6.42024-03-31: 6.62024-06-30: 5.42024-09-30: 6.52024-12-31: 6.92025-03-31: 7.12025-06-30: 7.02025-09-30: 6.12025-12-31: 6.62026-03-31: 6.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.4 to 8.5 · axis starts at 5.1

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

31.7%
26.531.135.72020-03-31: 32.72020-06-30: 31.32020-09-30: 31.22020-12-31: 31.72021-03-31: 31.42021-06-30: 33.22021-09-30: 33.72021-12-31: 34.82022-03-31: 34.02022-06-30: 32.52022-09-30: 30.22022-12-31: 29.32023-03-31: 28.82023-06-30: 29.02023-09-30: 28.92023-12-31: 28.52024-03-31: 30.62024-06-30: 29.62024-09-30: 28.92024-12-31: 29.72025-03-31: 27.42025-06-30: 28.62025-09-30: 31.52025-12-31: 30.22026-03-31: 31.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 27.4 to 34.8 · axis starts at 26.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.1, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 1
£19,688
7,67414k21k1997-12-31: 8,9611998-12-31: 9,1581999-12-31: 9,5452000-12-31: 10k2001-12-31: 10k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 11k2005-12-31: 11k2006-12-31: 12k2007-12-31: 12k2008-12-31: 12k2009-12-31: 12k2010-12-31: 13k2011-12-31: 13k2012-12-31: 13k2013-12-31: 14k2014-12-31: 14k2015-12-31: 15k2016-12-31: 15k2017-12-31: 15k2018-12-31: 15k2019-12-31: 16k2020-12-31: 16k2021-12-31: 17k2022-12-31: 18k2023-12-31: 19k2024-12-31: 20k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 8,961 to 20k · axis starts at 7,674

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
92,560
60k78k97k2010-03-31: 65k2011-03-31: 64k2012-03-31: 66k2013-03-31: 66k2014-03-31: 69k2015-03-31: 76k2016-03-31: 82k2017-03-31: 89k2018-03-31: 86k2019-03-31: 89k2020-03-31: 91k2021-03-31: 91k2022-03-31: 93k2023-03-31: 92k2024-03-31: 92k2025-03-31: 93k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 64k to 93k · axis starts at 60k

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

71,520
44k59k75k2010-03-31: 48k2011-03-31: 47k2012-03-31: 48k2013-03-31: 48k2014-03-31: 50k2015-03-31: 56k2016-03-31: 62k2017-03-31: 68k2018-03-31: 65k2019-03-31: 68k2020-03-31: 71k2021-03-31: 70k2022-03-31: 72k2023-03-31: 71k2024-03-31: 71k2025-03-31: 72k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 47k to 72k · axis starts at 44k

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

5,610
4,1285,0185,9072010-03-31: 4,3952011-03-31: 4,3002012-03-31: 4,5852013-03-31: 4,8352014-03-31: 5,0152015-03-31: 5,2302016-03-31: 5,2402017-03-31: 5,4202018-03-31: 5,5352019-03-31: 5,5202020-03-31: 5,3452021-03-31: 5,3002022-03-31: 5,7352023-03-31: 5,6352024-03-31: 5,5152025-03-31: 5,610 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,300 to 5,735 · axis starts at 4,128

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

515
4545105662010-03-31: 4652011-03-31: 4652012-03-31: 4852013-03-31: 5052014-03-31: 5202015-03-31: 5202016-03-31: 5552017-03-31: 5452018-03-31: 5252019-03-31: 5402020-03-31: 5502021-03-31: 5202022-03-31: 5052023-03-31: 5202024-03-31: 5252025-03-31: 515 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 465 to 555 · axis starts at 454

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

135
1131251372010-03-31: 1252011-03-31: 1202012-03-31: 1152013-03-31: 1152014-03-31: 1202015-03-31: 1202016-03-31: 1152017-03-31: 1152018-03-31: 1152019-03-31: 1252020-03-31: 1252021-03-31: 1252022-03-31: 1252023-03-31: 1352024-03-31: 1352025-03-31: 135 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 115 to 135 · axis starts at 113

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

2,905
2,4242,7123,0012010-03-31: 2,5802011-03-31: 2,4802012-03-31: 2,5002013-03-31: 2,6602014-03-31: 2,7252015-03-31: 2,8002016-03-31: 2,8252017-03-31: 2,8202018-03-31: 2,7902019-03-31: 2,7502020-03-31: 2,7702021-03-31: 2,7452022-03-31: 2,8502023-03-31: 2,9252024-03-31: 2,9452025-03-31: 2,905 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,480 to 2,945 · axis starts at 2,424

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

200
1381722072010-03-31: 1552011-03-31: 1452012-03-31: 1502013-03-31: 1702014-03-31: 1702015-03-31: 1752016-03-31: 1752017-03-31: 1952018-03-31: 1852019-03-31: 1852020-03-31: 1802021-03-31: 1952022-03-31: 1852023-03-31: 1902024-03-31: 1852025-03-31: 200 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 145 to 200 · axis starts at 138

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

10,540
8,3149,92012k2010-03-31: 8,9902011-03-31: 8,6252012-03-31: 9,1552013-03-31: 8,8552014-03-31: 9,2252015-03-31: 9,9402016-03-31: 9,6902017-03-31: 11k2018-03-31: 10k2019-03-31: 11k2020-03-31: 10k2021-03-31: 11k2022-03-31: 11k2023-03-31: 11k2024-03-31: 11k2025-03-31: 11k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 8,625 to 11k · axis starts at 8,314

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

1,015
7979181,0382010-03-31: 8252011-03-31: 8202012-03-31: 8502013-03-31: 8852014-03-31: 9302015-03-31: 9552016-03-31: 9352017-03-31: 9552018-03-31: 1,0002019-03-31: 9902020-03-31: 1,0052021-03-31: 9752022-03-31: 9802023-03-31: 9702024-03-31: 9902025-03-31: 1,015 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 820 to 1,015 · axis starts at 797

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

125
45.4951452010-03-31: 652011-03-31: 552012-03-31: 652013-03-31: 552014-03-31: 652015-03-31: 602016-03-31: 802017-03-31: 852018-03-31: 952019-03-31: 1102020-03-31: 1352021-03-31: 1202022-03-31: 1252023-03-31: 1302024-03-31: 1302025-03-31: 125 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 55 to 135 · axis starts at 45.4

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

109,065
80k97k114k2010-03-31: 84k2011-03-31: 83k2012-03-31: 84k2013-03-31: 85k2014-03-31: 88k2015-03-31: 94k2016-03-31: 99k2017-03-31: 107k2018-03-31: 104k2019-03-31: 106k2020-03-31: 108k2021-03-31: 108k2022-03-31: 110k2023-03-31: 109k2024-03-31: 109k2025-03-31: 109k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 83k to 110k · axis starts at 80k

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

83,361
30k59k89k1998-12-31: 35k1999-12-31: 36k2000-12-31: 37k2001-12-31: 39k2002-12-31: 40k2003-12-31: 42k2004-12-31: 44k2005-12-31: 46k2006-12-31: 47k2007-12-31: 49k2008-12-31: 50k2009-12-31: 49k2010-12-31: 50k2011-12-31: 52k2012-12-31: 53k2013-12-31: 55k2014-12-31: 58k2015-12-31: 60k2016-12-31: 64k2017-12-31: 67k2018-12-31: 69k2019-12-31: 70k2020-12-31: 65k2021-12-31: 70k2022-12-31: 76k2023-12-31: 83k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 35k to 83k · axis starts at 30k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West Midlands

Birmingham · Coventry · Dudley · Sandwell · Solihull · Walsall · Wolverhampton