The Datum Report

Local area

Babergh and Mid Suffolk

What we think is happening

The job market in Babergh and Mid 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
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 5.9% -8.7 in the bottom 1% of 165
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 36.6% +7.1 in the top 2% of 171
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 4.1% +2.3 in the top 1% of 169
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 20.2% +5.6 in the top 4% of 171
Employment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 77.6% -2.4 in the bottom 5% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for Babergh and Mid 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
11.8%
10.314.117.92020-03-31: 12.82020-06-30: 16.22020-09-30: 16.52020-12-31: 16.92021-03-31: 16.42021-06-30: 14.22021-09-30: 14.72021-12-31: 13.82022-03-31: 14.82022-06-30: 15.62022-09-30: 13.62022-12-31: 12.62023-03-31: 15.02023-06-30: 12.82023-09-30: 13.62023-12-31: 13.52024-03-31: 14.42024-06-30: 17.22024-09-30: 16.02024-12-31: 15.72025-03-31: 14.52025-06-30: 12.22025-09-30: 12.92025-12-31: 112026-03-31: 11.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 11 to 17.2 · axis starts at 10.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.1, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
77.6%
66.075.184.22020-03-31: 80.42020-06-30: 82.42020-09-30: 79.02020-12-31: 79.32021-03-31: 78.32021-06-30: 78.42021-09-30: 80.42021-12-31: 76.82022-03-31: 75.22022-06-30: 74.72022-09-30: 75.62022-12-31: 78.12023-03-31: 76.42023-06-30: 74.02023-09-30: 69.12023-12-31: 67.72024-03-31: 69.92024-06-30: 67.92024-09-30: 72.02024-12-31: 74.62025-03-31: 76.32025-06-30: 77.82025-09-30: 78.62025-12-31: 802026-03-31: 77.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 67.7 to 82.4 · axis starts at 66.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±5.3, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
4.1%
1.52.94.42025-12-31: 1.82026-03-31: 4.1 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 1.8 to 4.1 · axis starts at 1.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

19.1%
14.622.831.02020-03-31: 18.22020-06-30: 16.22020-09-30: 18.92020-12-31: 18.12021-03-31: 18.92021-06-30: 19.42021-09-30: 19.12021-12-31: 22.22022-03-31: 23.52022-06-30: 24.12022-09-30: 22.52022-12-31: 20.92023-03-31: 22.62023-06-30: 25.22023-09-30: 28.32023-12-31: 28.92024-03-31: 27.32024-06-30: 29.42024-09-30: 26.72024-12-31: 24.42025-03-31: 22.42025-06-30: 20.62025-09-30: 19.12025-12-31: 18.52026-03-31: 19.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.2 to 29.4 · axis starts at 14.6

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

Claimant count
August 2026
2,690
1,4913,3985,3042020-01-31: 1,8602020-02-29: 1,9802020-03-31: 1,9452020-04-30: 3,8602020-05-31: 4,9352020-06-30: 4,6352020-07-31: 4,7852020-08-31: 4,8702020-09-30: 4,8202020-10-31: 4,5502020-11-30: 4,7052020-12-31: 4,6552021-01-31: 4,5052021-02-28: 4,7802021-03-31: 4,6702021-04-30: 4,4902021-05-31: 4,1102021-06-30: 3,7452021-07-31: 3,6302021-08-31: 3,4002021-09-30: 3,2002021-10-31: 3,0852021-11-30: 2,9502021-12-31: 2,8352022-01-31: 2,8502022-02-28: 2,7902022-03-31: 2,6052022-04-30: 2,4952022-05-31: 2,3552022-06-30: 2,2752022-07-31: 2,3502022-08-31: 2,3702022-09-30: 2,3202022-10-31: 2,3302022-11-30: 2,3502022-12-31: 2,4202023-01-31: 2,3802023-02-28: 2,3202023-03-31: 2,3202023-04-30: 2,3702023-05-31: 2,3352023-06-30: 2,3402023-07-31: 2,3602023-08-31: 2,3102023-09-30: 2,3002023-10-31: 2,3102023-11-30: 2,3502023-12-31: 2,4352024-01-31: 2,5002024-02-29: 2,5852024-03-31: 2,5902024-04-30: 2,5602024-05-31: 2,5452024-06-30: 2,6402024-07-31: 2,7902024-08-31: 2,8402024-09-30: 2,7852024-10-31: 2,6802024-11-30: 2,6552024-12-31: 2,6002025-01-31: 2,5802025-02-28: 2,6252025-03-31: 2,6102025-04-30: 2,5602025-05-31: 2,5252025-06-30: 2,5702025-07-31: 2,5252025-08-31: 2,4852025-09-30: 2,4052025-10-31: 2,4652025-11-30: 2,4252025-12-31: 2,4802026-01-31: 2,5152026-02-28: 2,6752026-03-31: 2,6702026-04-30: 2,6452026-05-31: 2,6202026-06-30: 2,6502026-07-31: 2,6152026-08-31: 2,690 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 1,860 to 4,935 · axis starts at 1,491

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

2.2%
2.12.22.22026-01-31: 2.12026-02-28: 2.22026-03-31: 2.22026-04-30: 2.22026-05-31: 2.22026-06-30: 2.22026-07-31: 2.22026-08-31: 2.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.1 to 2.2 · axis starts at 2.1

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
—

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.

36.6%
12.027.442.72020-09-30: 15.22020-12-31: 152021-03-31: 17.72021-06-30: 16.52021-09-30: 18.12021-12-31: 20.32022-03-31: 19.62022-06-30: 19.92024-03-31: 25.82024-06-30: 36.12024-09-30: 39.72024-12-31: 27.12025-09-30: 20.52025-12-31: 29.52026-03-31: 36.6 2020-09 2026-03
15 monthly readings · 15 to 39.7 · axis starts at 12.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±13.8, basis not documented by the producer
10 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

22.7%
14.423.432.32020-03-31: 23.42020-06-30: 23.92020-09-30: 25.72020-12-31: 30.52021-03-31: 27.82021-06-30: 23.92021-09-30: 19.12021-12-31: 19.12022-03-31: 21.12022-06-30: 23.22022-09-30: 24.72022-12-31: 24.42023-03-31: 30.62023-06-30: 28.42023-09-30: 26.42023-12-31: 23.52024-06-30: 17.62024-09-30: 16.22024-12-31: 19.42025-03-31: 18.12025-06-30: 16.42025-09-30: 21.92025-12-31: 23.72026-03-31: 22.7 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 16.2 to 30.6 · axis starts at 14.4

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

5.9%
3.117.732.32020-09-30: 16.22021-03-31: 17.72021-06-30: 26.62021-09-30: 27.02021-12-31: 29.52022-03-31: 27.92022-06-30: 19.92022-09-30: 17.12022-12-31: 9.42023-03-31: 10.22024-09-30: 15.82024-12-31: 18.32025-03-31: 26.32025-06-30: 28.22025-09-30: 21.92025-12-31: 14.62026-03-31: 5.9 2020-09 2026-03
17 monthly readings · 5.9 to 29.5 · axis starts at 3.1

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

20.2%
12.921.530.02020-03-31: 28.42020-06-30: 26.72020-09-30: 27.62020-12-31: 24.52021-03-31: 25.42021-06-30: 22.92021-09-30: 202021-12-31: 18.72022-03-31: 15.82022-06-30: 17.02023-03-31: 23.12023-06-30: 16.02023-09-30: 18.22023-12-31: 14.62025-09-30: 20.12025-12-31: 14.62026-03-31: 20.2 2020-03 2026-03
17 monthly readings · 14.6 to 28.4 · axis starts at 12.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±11.5, basis not documented by the producer
8 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£26,987
9,11519k29k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 11k2000-12-31: 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: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 18k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 20k2016-12-31: 20k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 21k2020-12-31: 21k2021-12-31: 23k2022-12-31: 24k2023-12-31: 25k2024-12-31: 27k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 27k · axis starts at 9,115

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
9,115
8,1268,7409,3542010-03-31: 8,3452011-03-31: 8,2452012-03-31: 8,3702013-03-31: 8,3352014-03-31: 8,4252015-03-31: 8,8002016-03-31: 8,8652017-03-31: 8,9502018-03-31: 8,9402019-03-31: 9,0552020-03-31: 9,1202021-03-31: 9,1252022-03-31: 9,2352023-03-31: 9,1902024-03-31: 9,2252025-03-31: 9,115 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 8,245 to 9,235 · axis starts at 8,126

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

7,215
6,3376,8707,4032010-03-31: 6,5902011-03-31: 6,4952012-03-31: 6,5352013-03-31: 6,4402014-03-31: 6,5052015-03-31: 6,7902016-03-31: 6,9302017-03-31: 7,0052018-03-31: 7,0002019-03-31: 7,0852020-03-31: 7,2102021-03-31: 7,1952022-03-31: 7,2752023-03-31: 7,2102024-03-31: 7,3002025-03-31: 7,215 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 6,440 to 7,300 · axis starts at 6,337

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

470
4094685262010-03-31: 4402011-03-31: 4202012-03-31: 4502013-03-31: 4352014-03-31: 4502015-03-31: 4852016-03-31: 4802017-03-31: 4802018-03-31: 5102019-03-31: 5102020-03-31: 5052021-03-31: 4952022-03-31: 5052023-03-31: 5152024-03-31: 4702025-03-31: 470 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 420 to 515 · axis starts at 409

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

35
28.83541.22010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 352014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 352016-03-31: 352017-03-31: 402018-03-31: 402019-03-31: 402020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 402023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 352025-03-31: 35 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 40 · axis starts at 28.8

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

5
02.85.62010-03-31: 02011-03-31: 02012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 02015-03-31: 02016-03-31: 02017-03-31: 02018-03-31: 02019-03-31: 02020-03-31: 02021-03-31: 02022-03-31: 02023-03-31: 02024-03-31: 02025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 5

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

255
2132482822010-03-31: 2302011-03-31: 2202012-03-31: 2252013-03-31: 2602014-03-31: 2652015-03-31: 2602016-03-31: 2652017-03-31: 2602018-03-31: 2702019-03-31: 2752020-03-31: 2652021-03-31: 2552022-03-31: 2652023-03-31: 2602024-03-31: 2602025-03-31: 255 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 220 to 275 · axis starts at 213

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

15
8.81521.22010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 15 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10 to 20 · axis starts at 8.8

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

1,020
9461,0421,1392010-03-31: 9652011-03-31: 9902012-03-31: 1,0452013-03-31: 1,0852014-03-31: 1,0752015-03-31: 1,1202016-03-31: 1,0502017-03-31: 1,0452018-03-31: 1,0052019-03-31: 1,0402020-03-31: 9752021-03-31: 1,0102022-03-31: 1,0302023-03-31: 1,0402024-03-31: 1,0352025-03-31: 1,020 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 965 to 1,120 · axis starts at 946

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

95
66.4851042010-03-31: 752011-03-31: 702012-03-31: 752013-03-31: 752014-03-31: 752015-03-31: 852016-03-31: 852017-03-31: 952018-03-31: 902019-03-31: 902020-03-31: 1002021-03-31: 952022-03-31: 952023-03-31: 952024-03-31: 952025-03-31: 95 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 70 to 100 · axis starts at 66.4

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

5
02.85.62010-03-31: 02011-03-31: 02012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 02017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 02019-03-31: 02020-03-31: 02021-03-31: 02022-03-31: 02023-03-31: 02024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 5

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

10,255
9,1679,83010k2010-03-31: 9,3652011-03-31: 9,2952012-03-31: 9,3702013-03-31: 9,3302014-03-31: 9,5402015-03-31: 9,8902016-03-31: 9,9502017-03-31: 10k2018-03-31: 10k2019-03-31: 10k2020-03-31: 10k2021-03-31: 10k2022-03-31: 10k2023-03-31: 10k2024-03-31: 10k2025-03-31: 10k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 9,295 to 10k · axis starts at 9,167

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

4,986
1,6693,5055,3411998-12-31: 2,0241999-12-31: 2,1102000-12-31: 2,2402001-12-31: 2,3252002-12-31: 2,4422003-12-31: 2,5262004-12-31: 2,5782005-12-31: 2,6212006-12-31: 2,7562007-12-31: 2,8452008-12-31: 2,9592009-12-31: 2,8992010-12-31: 2,9942011-12-31: 3,0542012-12-31: 3,1412013-12-31: 3,2162014-12-31: 3,3742015-12-31: 3,4502016-12-31: 3,5362017-12-31: 3,6762018-12-31: 3,7832019-12-31: 4,0082020-12-31: 3,9252021-12-31: 4,1972022-12-31: 4,5132023-12-31: 4,986 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 2,024 to 4,986 · axis starts at 1,669

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Babergh and Mid Suffolk

Babergh · Mid Suffolk