The Datum Report

Local area

Birmingham

What we think is happening

The job market in Birmingham 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
Businesses employing 10 to 19 people 2025 2,325 +150 in the top 2% of 182

By subject

Every figure published for Birmingham. 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
6.0%
4.88.011.32020-03-31: 10.02020-06-30: 10.62020-09-30: 9.52020-12-31: 9.52021-03-31: 8.82021-06-30: 7.42021-09-30: 7.02021-12-31: 5.72022-03-31: 5.62022-06-30: 5.42022-09-30: 6.42022-12-31: 6.92023-03-31: 7.72023-06-30: 7.92023-09-30: 7.42023-12-31: 7.32024-03-31: 6.02024-06-30: 6.62024-09-30: 7.02024-12-31: 7.12025-03-31: 8.12025-06-30: 7.32025-09-30: 7.12025-12-31: 6.92026-03-31: 6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.4 to 10.6 · axis starts at 4.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.6, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
66.8%
64.066.769.42020-03-31: 64.62020-06-30: 66.22020-09-30: 65.52020-12-31: 65.42021-03-31: 65.72021-06-30: 64.82021-09-30: 65.12021-12-31: 64.62022-03-31: 66.22022-06-30: 65.12022-09-30: 65.02022-12-31: 66.32023-03-31: 65.62023-06-30: 67.32023-09-30: 66.92023-12-31: 65.92024-03-31: 65.82024-06-30: 65.72024-09-30: 65.92024-12-31: 66.32025-03-31: 67.22025-06-30: 67.42025-09-30: 68.92025-12-31: 672026-03-31: 66.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 64.6 to 68.9 · axis starts at 64.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.1, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
8.5%
6.58.510.62020-03-31: 10.22020-06-30: 9.32020-09-30: 8.52020-12-31: 8.92021-03-31: 9.22021-06-30: 9.92021-09-30: 9.92021-12-31: 9.62022-03-31: 7.72022-06-30: 7.72022-09-30: 8.22022-12-31: 7.12023-03-31: 7.72023-06-30: 7.72023-09-30: 7.72023-12-31: 8.02024-03-31: 6.92024-06-30: 6.92024-09-30: 7.42024-12-31: 8.22025-03-31: 7.82025-06-30: 7.92025-09-30: 7.82025-12-31: 7.82026-03-31: 8.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.9 to 10.2 · axis starts at 6.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.1, basis not documented by the producer

27.1%
24.827.430.02020-03-31: 28.02020-06-30: 27.02020-09-30: 28.52020-12-31: 28.22021-03-31: 27.62021-06-30: 28.12021-09-30: 27.82021-12-31: 28.62022-03-31: 28.32022-06-30: 29.52022-09-30: 29.22022-12-31: 28.62023-03-31: 29.02023-06-30: 27.12023-09-30: 27.62023-12-31: 28.32024-03-31: 29.32024-06-30: 29.42024-09-30: 28.82024-12-31: 27.92025-03-31: 27.12025-06-30: 26.82025-09-30: 25.32025-12-31: 27.32026-03-31: 27.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 25.3 to 29.5 · axis starts at 24.8

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

Claimant count
August 2026
77,930
44k66k88k2020-01-31: 48k2020-02-29: 49k2020-03-31: 49k2020-04-30: 66k2020-05-31: 78k2020-06-30: 78k2020-07-31: 79k2020-08-31: 81k2020-09-30: 81k2020-10-31: 81k2020-11-30: 81k2020-12-31: 81k2021-01-31: 81k2021-02-28: 84k2021-03-31: 84k2021-04-30: 83k2021-05-31: 80k2021-06-30: 78k2021-07-31: 77k2021-08-31: 75k2021-09-30: 73k2021-10-31: 71k2021-11-30: 69k2021-12-31: 67k2022-01-31: 66k2022-02-28: 67k2022-03-31: 66k2022-04-30: 64k2022-05-31: 63k2022-06-30: 62k2022-07-31: 61k2022-08-31: 61k2022-09-30: 61k2022-10-31: 60k2022-11-30: 61k2022-12-31: 61k2023-01-31: 60k2023-02-28: 61k2023-03-31: 62k2023-04-30: 64k2023-05-31: 62k2023-06-30: 62k2023-07-31: 63k2023-08-31: 63k2023-09-30: 63k2023-10-31: 63k2023-11-30: 63k2023-12-31: 63k2024-01-31: 63k2024-02-29: 65k2024-03-31: 66k2024-04-30: 66k2024-05-31: 67k2024-06-30: 72k2024-07-31: 78k2024-08-31: 78k2024-09-30: 80k2024-10-31: 80k2024-11-30: 79k2024-12-31: 79k2025-01-31: 78k2025-02-28: 79k2025-03-31: 80k2025-04-30: 79k2025-05-31: 79k2025-06-30: 79k2025-07-31: 77k2025-08-31: 77k2025-09-30: 77k2025-10-31: 77k2025-11-30: 76k2025-12-31: 75k2026-01-31: 75k2026-02-28: 76k2026-03-31: 77k2026-04-30: 76k2026-05-31: 77k2026-06-30: 76k2026-07-31: 76k2026-08-31: 78k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 48k to 84k · axis starts at 44k

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

10.1%
9.79.910.12026-01-31: 9.72026-02-28: 9.92026-03-31: 9.92026-04-30: 9.92026-05-31: 9.92026-06-30: 9.92026-07-31: 9.92026-08-31: 10.1 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 9.7 to 10.1 · axis starts at 9.7

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.

25.3%
15.523.631.82020-03-31: 17.12020-06-30: 18.52020-09-30: 19.62020-12-31: 21.02021-03-31: 23.22021-06-30: 22.82021-09-30: 23.72021-12-31: 19.72022-03-31: 20.52022-06-30: 20.12022-09-30: 20.42022-12-31: 21.22023-03-31: 23.52023-06-30: 22.62023-09-30: 26.12023-12-31: 30.22024-03-31: 27.82024-06-30: 28.72024-09-30: 26.22024-12-31: 24.62025-03-31: 23.92025-06-30: 24.02025-09-30: 24.52025-12-31: 25.72026-03-31: 25.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 17.1 to 30.2 · axis starts at 15.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.5, basis not documented by the producer

22.6%
21.527.132.82020-03-31: 30.92020-06-30: 31.72020-09-30: 30.22020-12-31: 28.02021-03-31: 27.82021-06-30: 22.62021-09-30: 22.72021-12-31: 25.12022-03-31: 24.62022-06-30: 26.82022-09-30: 25.42022-12-31: 24.82023-03-31: 23.82023-06-30: 24.82023-09-30: 25.32023-12-31: 23.12024-03-31: 22.72024-06-30: 23.42024-09-30: 23.52024-12-31: 24.02025-03-31: 25.82025-06-30: 25.12025-09-30: 23.52025-12-31: 23.62026-03-31: 22.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 22.6 to 31.7 · axis starts at 21.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.3, basis not documented by the producer

6.8%
2.75.07.22020-03-31: 4.72020-06-30: 5.12020-09-30: 4.52020-12-31: 4.22021-03-31: 5.02021-06-30: 4.92021-09-30: 4.02021-12-31: 4.02022-03-31: 3.22022-06-30: 3.22022-09-30: 4.02022-12-31: 4.02023-03-31: 3.22023-06-30: 3.92023-09-30: 3.52023-12-31: 4.62024-03-31: 6.02024-06-30: 3.22024-09-30: 4.72024-12-31: 3.92025-03-31: 4.52025-06-30: 4.72025-09-30: 4.32025-12-31: 6.12026-03-31: 6.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 3.2 to 6.8 · axis starts at 2.7

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

36.0%
33.138.343.42020-03-31: 39.52020-06-30: 36.32020-09-30: 36.02020-12-31: 36.82021-03-31: 34.12021-06-30: 39.02021-09-30: 39.32021-12-31: 42.42022-03-31: 42.42022-06-30: 40.82022-09-30: 38.92022-12-31: 38.32023-03-31: 38.82023-06-30: 38.92023-09-30: 36.62023-12-31: 35.42024-03-31: 37.72024-06-30: 36.42024-09-30: 36.62024-12-31: 37.92025-03-31: 35.12025-06-30: 35.62025-09-30: 38.82025-12-31: 34.62026-03-31: 36 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 34.1 to 42.4 · axis starts at 33.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.1, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£19,205
7,37714k20k1997-12-31: 8,6441998-12-31: 8,8481999-12-31: 9,2272000-12-31: 9,7882001-12-31: 10k2002-12-31: 10k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 11k2005-12-31: 11k2006-12-31: 11k2007-12-31: 11k2008-12-31: 12k2009-12-31: 12k2010-12-31: 12k2011-12-31: 12k2012-12-31: 13k2013-12-31: 13k2014-12-31: 14k2015-12-31: 14k2016-12-31: 14k2017-12-31: 14k2018-12-31: 15k2019-12-31: 15k2020-12-31: 15k2021-12-31: 16k2022-12-31: 17k2023-12-31: 18k2024-12-31: 19k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 8,644 to 19k · axis starts at 7,377

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,446
1,5572,0492,5412020-01-31: 1,6872020-02-29: 1,6912020-03-31: 1,6822020-04-30: 1,6522020-05-31: 1,6702020-06-30: 1,6852020-07-31: 1,7122020-08-31: 1,7362020-09-30: 1,7622020-10-31: 1,7652020-11-30: 1,7742020-12-31: 1,7932021-01-31: 1,7712021-02-28: 1,7682021-03-31: 1,7882021-04-30: 1,7962021-05-31: 1,7952021-06-30: 1,8002021-07-31: 1,8022021-08-31: 1,8152021-09-30: 1,8302021-10-31: 1,8262021-11-30: 1,8292021-12-31: 1,8602022-01-31: 1,8362022-02-28: 1,8392022-03-31: 1,8762022-04-30: 1,8782022-05-31: 1,8892022-06-30: 1,9062022-07-31: 1,9162022-08-31: 1,9292022-09-30: 1,9632022-10-31: 1,9602022-11-30: 2,0072022-12-31: 1,9992023-01-31: 1,9782023-02-28: 1,9762023-03-31: 1,9972023-04-30: 2,0292023-05-31: 2,0662023-06-30: 2,1002023-07-31: 2,0702023-08-31: 2,0712023-09-30: 2,0832023-10-31: 2,0892023-11-30: 2,1442023-12-31: 2,1312024-01-31: 2,1142024-02-29: 2,1232024-03-31: 2,1462024-04-30: 2,1862024-05-31: 2,2032024-06-30: 2,1982024-07-31: 2,2082024-08-31: 2,2152024-09-30: 2,2222024-10-31: 2,2682024-11-30: 2,2692024-12-31: 2,2962025-01-31: 2,2582025-02-28: 2,2562025-03-31: 2,2762025-04-30: 2,3062025-05-31: 2,3202025-06-30: 2,3192025-07-31: 2,3392025-08-31: 2,3682025-09-30: 2,3542025-10-31: 2,3542025-11-30: 2,3552025-12-31: 2,3802026-01-31: 2,3572026-02-28: 2,3652026-03-31: 2,3862026-04-30: 2,4262026-05-31: 2,4352026-06-30: 2,4452026-07-31: 2,446 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,652 to 2,446 · axis starts at 1,557

ONS, Earnings and employment from PAYE Real Time Information, published 22 August 2026 (approximate)
no published uncertainty; this figure is our own aggregation
Our aggregation of local authorities, with no published interval.

465,831
407k444k481k2020-01-31: 428k2020-02-29: 428k2020-03-31: 428k2020-04-30: 419k2020-05-31: 418k2020-06-30: 419k2020-07-31: 419k2020-08-31: 416k2020-09-30: 415k2020-10-31: 417k2020-11-30: 419k2020-12-31: 419k2021-01-31: 415k2021-02-28: 415k2021-03-31: 415k2021-04-30: 418k2021-05-31: 422k2021-06-30: 427k2021-07-31: 430k2021-08-31: 431k2021-09-30: 435k2021-10-31: 439k2021-11-30: 445k2021-12-31: 445k2022-01-31: 440k2022-02-28: 441k2022-03-31: 442k2022-04-30: 443k2022-05-31: 445k2022-06-30: 448k2022-07-31: 451k2022-08-31: 449k2022-09-30: 450k2022-10-31: 454k2022-11-30: 459k2022-12-31: 459k2023-01-31: 453k2023-02-28: 454k2023-03-31: 454k2023-04-30: 455k2023-05-31: 458k2023-06-30: 461k2023-07-31: 461k2023-08-31: 458k2023-09-30: 461k2023-10-31: 464k2023-11-30: 468k2023-12-31: 469k2024-01-31: 463k2024-02-29: 463k2024-03-31: 463k2024-04-30: 466k2024-05-31: 469k2024-06-30: 470k2024-07-31: 470k2024-08-31: 467k2024-09-30: 469k2024-10-31: 471k2024-11-30: 474k2024-12-31: 473k2025-01-31: 467k2025-02-28: 466k2025-03-31: 465k2025-04-30: 466k2025-05-31: 467k2025-06-30: 468k2025-07-31: 468k2025-08-31: 465k2025-09-30: 467k2025-10-31: 470k2025-11-30: 473k2025-12-31: 472k2026-01-31: 465k2026-02-28: 465k2026-03-31: 464k2026-04-30: 463k2026-05-31: 465k2026-06-30: 466k2026-07-31: 466k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 415k to 474k · axis starts at 407k

ONS, Earnings and employment from PAYE Real Time Information, published 22 August 2026 (approximate)
no published uncertainty; this figure is our own aggregation
Our aggregation of local authorities, with no published interval.

Business 12
Businesses
2025
37,810
22k31k40k2010-03-31: 25k2011-03-31: 24k2012-03-31: 25k2013-03-31: 25k2014-03-31: 27k2015-03-31: 30k2016-03-31: 33k2017-03-31: 37k2018-03-31: 35k2019-03-31: 37k2020-03-31: 38k2021-03-31: 37k2022-03-31: 37k2023-03-31: 37k2024-03-31: 37k2025-03-31: 38k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 24k to 38k · axis starts at 22k

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

29,375
16k24k32k2010-03-31: 18k2011-03-31: 18k2012-03-31: 18k2013-03-31: 18k2014-03-31: 19k2015-03-31: 22k2016-03-31: 25k2017-03-31: 28k2018-03-31: 26k2019-03-31: 28k2020-03-31: 30k2021-03-31: 29k2022-03-31: 29k2023-03-31: 29k2024-03-31: 29k2025-03-31: 29k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 18k to 30k · axis starts at 16k

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

2,325
1,5351,9722,4102010-03-31: 1,6302011-03-31: 1,6202012-03-31: 1,7902013-03-31: 1,8552014-03-31: 1,9252015-03-31: 2,0352016-03-31: 2,0702017-03-31: 2,2502018-03-31: 2,2102019-03-31: 2,2352020-03-31: 2,1002021-03-31: 2,0952022-03-31: 2,2502023-03-31: 2,2502024-03-31: 2,1752025-03-31: 2,325 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,620 to 2,325 · axis starts at 1,535

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

190
1812022242010-03-31: 1852011-03-31: 1902012-03-31: 1902013-03-31: 1902014-03-31: 2002015-03-31: 2002016-03-31: 2202017-03-31: 2102018-03-31: 2002019-03-31: 2002020-03-31: 2052021-03-31: 1902022-03-31: 1852023-03-31: 1902024-03-31: 1902025-03-31: 190 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 185 to 220 · axis starts at 181

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

55
43.85056.22010-03-31: 502011-03-31: 502012-03-31: 452013-03-31: 452014-03-31: 502015-03-31: 502016-03-31: 452017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 452019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 452021-03-31: 452022-03-31: 452023-03-31: 502024-03-31: 552025-03-31: 55 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 45 to 55 · axis starts at 43.8

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

1,060
8099701,1312010-03-31: 9152011-03-31: 8402012-03-31: 8702013-03-31: 9602014-03-31: 1,0052015-03-31: 1,0402016-03-31: 1,0452017-03-31: 1,0352018-03-31: 1,0502019-03-31: 1,0502020-03-31: 1,0502021-03-31: 1,0502022-03-31: 1,0702023-03-31: 1,0902024-03-31: 1,1002025-03-31: 1,060 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 840 to 1,100 · axis starts at 809

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

90
50.872.594.22010-03-31: 602011-03-31: 552012-03-31: 602013-03-31: 702014-03-31: 652015-03-31: 702016-03-31: 652017-03-31: 702018-03-31: 752019-03-31: 752020-03-31: 802021-03-31: 802022-03-31: 802023-03-31: 852024-03-31: 852025-03-31: 90 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 55 to 90 · axis starts at 50.8

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

4,270
3,0944,3385,5812010-03-31: 3,4252011-03-31: 3,3352012-03-31: 3,5902013-03-31: 3,4802014-03-31: 3,6752015-03-31: 3,9552016-03-31: 3,9752017-03-31: 5,3402018-03-31: 4,5452019-03-31: 4,7252020-03-31: 4,2752021-03-31: 4,5052022-03-31: 4,3452023-03-31: 4,3602024-03-31: 4,3552025-03-31: 4,270 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,335 to 5,340 · axis starts at 3,094

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

400
2883504122010-03-31: 3002011-03-31: 3002012-03-31: 3252013-03-31: 3302014-03-31: 3552015-03-31: 3552016-03-31: 3502017-03-31: 3752018-03-31: 3652019-03-31: 3652020-03-31: 3702021-03-31: 3652022-03-31: 3702023-03-31: 3752024-03-31: 3852025-03-31: 400 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 300 to 400 · axis starts at 288

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

45
1732.5482010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 402019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 452021-03-31: 452022-03-31: 452023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 452025-03-31: 45 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 45 · axis starts at 17

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

44,855
31k39k47k2010-03-31: 32k2011-03-31: 33k2012-03-31: 32k2013-03-31: 33k2014-03-31: 34k2015-03-31: 37k2016-03-31: 40k2017-03-31: 44k2018-03-31: 42k2019-03-31: 44k2020-03-31: 46k2021-03-31: 44k2022-03-31: 44k2023-03-31: 44k2024-03-31: 45k2025-03-31: 45k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 32k to 46k · axis starts at 31k

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

35,427
11k25k38k1998-12-31: 14k1999-12-31: 14k2000-12-31: 14k2001-12-31: 15k2002-12-31: 16k2003-12-31: 17k2004-12-31: 18k2005-12-31: 19k2006-12-31: 19k2007-12-31: 20k2008-12-31: 21k2009-12-31: 20k2010-12-31: 21k2011-12-31: 21k2012-12-31: 22k2013-12-31: 23k2014-12-31: 24k2015-12-31: 25k2016-12-31: 26k2017-12-31: 27k2018-12-31: 28k2019-12-31: 28k2020-12-31: 27k2021-12-31: 29k2022-12-31: 32k2023-12-31: 35k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 14k to 35k · axis starts at 11k

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Birmingham

Birmingham