The Datum Report

Sub-region

West of England

What we think is happening

The job market in West of England has been getting stronger.

improving · 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 19,245 +685 in the top 4% of 46

By subject

Every figure published for West of England. 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
9.2%
7.49.411.52020-03-31: 11.12020-06-30: 10.22020-09-30: 9.22020-12-31: 9.12021-03-31: 8.02021-06-30: 7.92021-09-30: 8.02021-12-31: 7.82022-03-31: 8.62022-06-30: 8.82022-09-30: 8.92022-12-31: 10.02023-03-31: 9.42023-06-30: 9.12023-09-30: 8.32023-12-31: 8.42024-03-31: 8.62024-06-30: 9.42024-09-30: 11.02024-12-31: 10.42025-03-31: 10.32025-06-30: 10.82025-09-30: 9.52025-12-31: 9.62026-03-31: 9.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.8 to 11.1 · axis starts at 7.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.3, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
79.5%
76.679.381.92020-03-31: 78.72020-06-30: 78.32020-09-30: 78.22020-12-31: 79.42021-03-31: 78.32021-06-30: 77.12021-09-30: 78.02021-12-31: 79.22022-03-31: 80.02022-06-30: 81.42022-09-30: 80.92022-12-31: 79.42023-03-31: 79.32023-06-30: 78.62023-09-30: 79.32023-12-31: 79.02024-03-31: 79.92024-06-30: 79.42024-09-30: 79.02024-12-31: 79.62025-03-31: 79.32025-06-30: 79.82025-09-30: 79.72025-12-31: 79.92026-03-31: 79.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 77.1 to 81.4 · axis starts at 76.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.8, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.9%
1.93.24.62020-03-31: 4.12020-06-30: 3.92020-09-30: 4.02020-12-31: 4.32021-03-31: 3.72021-06-30: 3.82021-09-30: 3.72021-12-31: 2.72022-03-31: 2.42022-06-30: 2.12022-09-30: 2.32022-12-31: 2.72023-03-31: 2.82023-06-30: 3.82023-09-30: 3.42023-12-31: 3.22024-03-31: 3.02024-06-30: 2.92024-09-30: 3.02024-12-31: 3.32025-03-31: 3.92025-06-30: 3.92025-09-30: 3.62025-12-31: 3.92026-03-31: 3.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 2.1 to 4.3 · axis starts at 1.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±0.9, basis not documented by the producer

17.3%
16.418.320.12020-03-31: 18.02020-06-30: 18.42020-09-30: 18.52020-12-31: 17.02021-03-31: 18.62021-06-30: 19.82021-09-30: 19.02021-12-31: 18.62022-03-31: 18.12022-06-30: 16.92022-09-30: 17.12022-12-31: 18.42023-03-31: 18.42023-06-30: 18.42023-09-30: 17.92023-12-31: 18.42024-03-31: 17.72024-06-30: 18.22024-09-30: 18.52024-12-31: 17.72025-03-31: 17.52025-06-30: 16.92025-09-30: 17.32025-12-31: 16.82026-03-31: 17.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.8 to 19.8 · axis starts at 16.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±1.7, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
19,245
10k23k36k2020-01-31: 13k2020-02-29: 13k2020-03-31: 13k2020-04-30: 24k2020-05-31: 33k2020-06-30: 31k2020-07-31: 32k2020-08-31: 33k2020-09-30: 33k2020-10-31: 31k2020-11-30: 31k2020-12-31: 31k2021-01-31: 30k2021-02-28: 31k2021-03-31: 31k2021-04-30: 31k2021-05-31: 28k2021-06-30: 26k2021-07-31: 25k2021-08-31: 24k2021-09-30: 23k2021-10-31: 22k2021-11-30: 21k2021-12-31: 20k2022-01-31: 20k2022-02-28: 20k2022-03-31: 19k2022-04-30: 18k2022-05-31: 17k2022-06-30: 17k2022-07-31: 16k2022-08-31: 16k2022-09-30: 16k2022-10-31: 16k2022-11-30: 16k2022-12-31: 16k2023-01-31: 16k2023-02-28: 16k2023-03-31: 16k2023-04-30: 17k2023-05-31: 16k2023-06-30: 16k2023-07-31: 16k2023-08-31: 16k2023-09-30: 16k2023-10-31: 17k2023-11-30: 17k2023-12-31: 17k2024-01-31: 17k2024-02-29: 18k2024-03-31: 17k2024-04-30: 17k2024-05-31: 17k2024-06-30: 17k2024-07-31: 19k2024-08-31: 19k2024-09-30: 19k2024-10-31: 19k2024-11-30: 18k2024-12-31: 18k2025-01-31: 18k2025-02-28: 19k2025-03-31: 19k2025-04-30: 19k2025-05-31: 19k2025-06-30: 19k2025-07-31: 19k2025-08-31: 19k2025-09-30: 19k2025-10-31: 19k2025-11-30: 19k2025-12-31: 19k2026-01-31: 19k2026-02-28: 19k2026-03-31: 19k2026-04-30: 19k2026-05-31: 19k2026-06-30: 19k2026-07-31: 19k2026-08-31: 19k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 13k to 33k · axis starts at 10k

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

2.9%
2.82.82.92026-01-31: 2.82026-02-28: 2.92026-03-31: 2.82026-04-30: 2.82026-05-31: 2.82026-06-30: 2.82026-07-31: 2.82026-08-31: 2.9 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.8 to 2.9 · 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.

21.4%
19.925.030.02020-03-31: 28.52020-06-30: 28.22020-09-30: 27.72020-12-31: 26.32021-03-31: 22.22021-06-30: 22.22021-09-30: 22.02021-12-31: 20.92022-03-31: 22.32022-06-30: 23.02022-09-30: 22.12022-12-31: 21.42023-03-31: 23.52023-06-30: 23.02023-09-30: 22.92023-12-31: 26.62024-03-31: 26.92024-06-30: 24.62024-09-30: 28.12024-12-31: 29.12025-03-31: 28.82025-06-30: 28.32025-09-30: 26.62025-12-31: 22.82026-03-31: 21.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 20.9 to 29.1 · axis starts at 19.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.3, basis not documented by the producer

16.4%
12.216.220.22020-03-31: 15.82020-06-30: 17.22020-09-30: 16.22020-12-31: 18.32021-03-31: 16.72021-06-30: 13.62021-09-30: 14.12021-12-31: 14.12022-03-31: 14.92022-06-30: 15.82022-09-30: 14.92022-12-31: 17.42023-03-31: 16.12023-06-30: 16.12023-09-30: 16.62023-12-31: 13.52024-03-31: 13.02024-06-30: 16.82024-09-30: 19.42024-12-31: 19.32025-03-31: 19.22025-06-30: 18.42025-09-30: 14.72025-12-31: 17.62026-03-31: 16.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.0 to 19.4 · axis starts at 12.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.9, basis not documented by the producer

13.6%
8.812.015.22020-03-31: 10.62020-06-30: 10.82020-09-30: 12.82020-12-31: 13.72021-03-31: 11.92021-06-30: 11.52021-09-30: 11.02021-12-31: 11.22022-03-31: 12.62022-06-30: 13.72022-09-30: 14.62022-12-31: 13.72023-03-31: 12.32023-06-30: 11.42023-09-30: 9.62023-12-31: 10.22024-03-31: 9.42024-06-30: 9.42024-09-30: 10.42024-12-31: 10.42025-03-31: 10.22025-06-30: 9.92025-09-30: 11.62025-12-31: 12.82026-03-31: 13.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 9.4 to 14.6 · axis starts at 8.8

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

35.7%
27.233.439.52020-03-31: 31.22020-06-30: 30.52020-09-30: 30.62020-12-31: 28.42021-03-31: 35.32021-06-30: 38.02021-09-30: 38.32021-12-31: 36.82022-03-31: 33.92022-06-30: 32.22022-09-30: 32.62022-12-31: 35.72023-03-31: 36.22023-06-30: 35.82023-09-30: 37.12023-12-31: 33.32024-03-31: 32.72024-06-30: 34.62024-09-30: 28.82024-12-31: 28.82025-03-31: 28.92025-06-30: 28.62025-09-30: 31.92025-12-31: 33.22026-03-31: 35.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 28.4 to 38.3 · axis starts at 27.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.0, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 1
£26,417
9,32819k28k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 13k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 14k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 16k2011-12-31: 16k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 17k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 19k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 21k2020-12-31: 21k2021-12-31: 22k2022-12-31: 24k2023-12-31: 25k2024-12-31: 26k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 26k · axis starts at 9,328

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
36,635
27k33k39k2010-03-31: 28k2011-03-31: 28k2012-03-31: 29k2013-03-31: 30k2014-03-31: 31k2015-03-31: 34k2016-03-31: 35k2017-03-31: 36k2018-03-31: 36k2019-03-31: 37k2020-03-31: 37k2021-03-31: 38k2022-03-31: 37k2023-03-31: 37k2024-03-31: 37k2025-03-31: 37k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 28k to 38k · axis starts at 27k

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

28,045
20k25k30k2010-03-31: 21k2011-03-31: 21k2012-03-31: 22k2013-03-31: 22k2014-03-31: 23k2015-03-31: 26k2016-03-31: 27k2017-03-31: 28k2018-03-31: 28k2019-03-31: 29k2020-03-31: 29k2021-03-31: 29k2022-03-31: 29k2023-03-31: 28k2024-03-31: 28k2025-03-31: 28k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 21k to 29k · axis starts at 20k

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

2,310
1,6952,0822,4702010-03-31: 1,8452011-03-31: 1,7702012-03-31: 1,8752013-03-31: 1,9252014-03-31: 2,0552015-03-31: 2,1202016-03-31: 2,0952017-03-31: 2,1652018-03-31: 2,2402019-03-31: 2,2602020-03-31: 2,2602021-03-31: 2,2302022-03-31: 2,2902023-03-31: 2,3952024-03-31: 2,3152025-03-31: 2,310 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,770 to 2,395 · axis starts at 1,695

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

210
1591902212010-03-31: 1752011-03-31: 1652012-03-31: 1652013-03-31: 1802014-03-31: 1802015-03-31: 1902016-03-31: 2052017-03-31: 2052018-03-31: 2052019-03-31: 2002020-03-31: 2152021-03-31: 2002022-03-31: 2052023-03-31: 2002024-03-31: 2152025-03-31: 210 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 165 to 215 · axis starts at 159

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

60
37.65062.42010-03-31: 402011-03-31: 452012-03-31: 452013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 452015-03-31: 452016-03-31: 502017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 502019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 552021-03-31: 552022-03-31: 552023-03-31: 602024-03-31: 552025-03-31: 60 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 40 to 60 · axis starts at 37.6

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

1,345
9301,1881,4452010-03-31: 9802011-03-31: 1,0152012-03-31: 1,0652013-03-31: 1,0952014-03-31: 1,1252015-03-31: 1,1952016-03-31: 1,2002017-03-31: 1,1902018-03-31: 1,1952019-03-31: 1,2302020-03-31: 1,2352021-03-31: 1,2752022-03-31: 1,3052023-03-31: 1,3902024-03-31: 1,3952025-03-31: 1,345 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 980 to 1,395 · axis starts at 930

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

70
40.862.584.22010-03-31: 452011-03-31: 552012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 652015-03-31: 702016-03-31: 702017-03-31: 602018-03-31: 652019-03-31: 652020-03-31: 652021-03-31: 752022-03-31: 752023-03-31: 802024-03-31: 702025-03-31: 70 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 45 to 80 · axis starts at 40.8

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

4,075
3,5683,9924,4172010-03-31: 3,7302011-03-31: 3,6502012-03-31: 3,7802013-03-31: 3,7802014-03-31: 3,9152015-03-31: 4,1402016-03-31: 3,9552017-03-31: 4,0402018-03-31: 4,0352019-03-31: 4,0852020-03-31: 4,1702021-03-31: 4,3202022-03-31: 4,2502023-03-31: 4,3352024-03-31: 4,1802025-03-31: 4,075 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,650 to 4,335 · axis starts at 3,568

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

480
2563805042010-03-31: 2902011-03-31: 2802012-03-31: 2802013-03-31: 3152014-03-31: 3202015-03-31: 3402016-03-31: 3502017-03-31: 3652018-03-31: 3852019-03-31: 4052020-03-31: 4152021-03-31: 3952022-03-31: 4202023-03-31: 4352024-03-31: 4552025-03-31: 480 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 280 to 480 · axis starts at 256

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

40
33.242.551.82010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 402015-03-31: 402016-03-31: 452017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 502019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 502021-03-31: 352022-03-31: 452023-03-31: 452024-03-31: 402025-03-31: 40 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 35 to 50 · axis starts at 33.2

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

44,245
35k41k47k2010-03-31: 36k2011-03-31: 36k2012-03-31: 37k2013-03-31: 37k2014-03-31: 39k2015-03-31: 41k2016-03-31: 43k2017-03-31: 44k2018-03-31: 44k2019-03-31: 45k2020-03-31: 45k2021-03-31: 46k2022-03-31: 45k2023-03-31: 44k2024-03-31: 45k2025-03-31: 44k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 36k to 46k · axis starts at 35k

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

43,376
9,78728k47k1998-12-31: 13k1999-12-31: 14k2000-12-31: 15k2001-12-31: 16k2002-12-31: 17k2003-12-31: 18k2004-12-31: 19k2005-12-31: 19k2006-12-31: 20k2007-12-31: 21k2008-12-31: 23k2009-12-31: 23k2010-12-31: 24k2011-12-31: 24k2012-12-31: 25k2013-12-31: 25k2014-12-31: 27k2015-12-31: 28k2016-12-31: 29k2017-12-31: 30k2018-12-31: 31k2019-12-31: 32k2020-12-31: 32k2021-12-31: 35k2022-12-31: 39k2023-12-31: 43k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 13k to 43k · axis starts at 9,787

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West of England

Bath and North East Somerset · Bristol, City of · South Gloucestershire