The Datum Report

Local area

Blackburn with Darwen

What we think is happening

The job market in Blackburn with Darwen 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
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 6.5% -1.2 in the bottom 9% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for Blackburn with Darwen. 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
6.5%
5.87.49.02020-03-31: 7.82020-06-30: 8.12020-09-30: 8.22020-12-31: 8.02021-03-31: 6.62021-06-30: 6.52021-09-30: 6.72021-12-31: 6.12022-03-31: 6.92022-06-30: 6.12022-09-30: 6.12022-12-31: 7.42023-03-31: 6.32023-06-30: 7.02023-09-30: 7.62023-12-31: 8.22024-03-31: 8.72024-06-30: 7.72024-09-30: 7.12024-12-31: 6.82025-03-31: 7.42025-06-30: 7.62025-09-30: 6.82025-12-31: 7.72026-03-31: 6.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.1 to 8.7 · axis starts at 5.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.0, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
65.4%
62.866.369.82020-03-31: 68.72020-06-30: 68.82020-09-30: 67.82020-12-31: 67.22021-03-31: 65.32021-06-30: 66.22021-09-30: 68.22021-12-31: 67.22022-03-31: 67.72022-06-30: 65.32022-09-30: 65.22022-12-31: 69.12023-03-31: 67.52023-06-30: 69.02023-09-30: 67.92023-12-31: 67.52024-03-31: 67.92024-06-30: 67.02024-09-30: 65.92024-12-31: 66.82025-03-31: 68.72025-06-30: 63.72025-09-30: 63.52025-12-31: 64.72026-03-31: 65.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 63.5 to 69.1 · axis starts at 62.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.8, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
4.3%
3.25.67.92020-03-31: 4.72020-06-30: 4.72020-09-30: 6.12020-12-31: 5.82021-03-31: 7.12021-06-30: 7.52021-09-30: 5.32021-12-31: 6.12022-03-31: 5.62022-06-30: 5.62022-09-30: 5.52022-12-31: 4.72023-03-31: 4.82023-06-30: 5.22023-09-30: 4.92023-12-31: 4.22024-03-31: 5.22024-06-30: 3.62024-09-30: 4.82024-12-31: 52025-03-31: 4.72025-06-30: 5.52025-09-30: 5.02025-12-31: 5.12026-03-31: 4.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 3.6 to 7.5 · axis starts at 3.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.0, basis not documented by the producer

31.6%
26.730.233.72020-03-31: 27.92020-06-30: 27.72020-09-30: 27.92020-12-31: 28.62021-03-31: 29.82021-06-30: 28.52021-09-30: 28.02021-12-31: 28.52022-03-31: 28.22022-06-30: 30.92022-09-30: 31.02022-12-31: 27.52023-03-31: 29.12023-06-30: 27.32023-09-30: 28.62023-12-31: 29.42024-03-31: 28.52024-06-30: 30.52024-09-30: 30.82024-12-31: 29.72025-03-31: 28.12025-06-30: 32.62025-09-30: 33.02025-12-31: 31.92026-03-31: 31.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 27.3 to 33.0 · axis starts at 26.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.7, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
5,800
4,0776,1608,2432020-01-31: 4,4802020-02-29: 4,5602020-03-31: 4,5302020-04-30: 6,6152020-05-31: 7,7302020-06-30: 7,6702020-07-31: 7,6452020-08-31: 7,5852020-09-30: 7,5402020-10-31: 7,4852020-11-30: 7,5802020-12-31: 7,5002021-01-31: 7,4752021-02-28: 7,7752021-03-31: 7,8402021-04-30: 7,7402021-05-31: 7,2702021-06-30: 6,9352021-07-31: 6,7302021-08-31: 6,5802021-09-30: 6,3252021-10-31: 6,0802021-11-30: 5,9402021-12-31: 5,7002022-01-31: 5,6202022-02-28: 5,6052022-03-31: 5,4502022-04-30: 5,2802022-05-31: 5,2202022-06-30: 5,1252022-07-31: 4,8752022-08-31: 4,8752022-09-30: 4,8552022-10-31: 4,8402022-11-30: 4,9252022-12-31: 5,0152023-01-31: 5,0102023-02-28: 5,1652023-03-31: 5,2502023-04-30: 5,2952023-05-31: 5,0802023-06-30: 4,9552023-07-31: 5,0602023-08-31: 4,9702023-09-30: 4,9102023-10-31: 4,8752023-11-30: 4,8952023-12-31: 4,8552024-01-31: 5,0352024-02-29: 5,2102024-03-31: 5,5352024-04-30: 5,6402024-05-31: 5,8402024-06-30: 5,8002024-07-31: 6,5302024-08-31: 6,4752024-09-30: 6,5652024-10-31: 6,5752024-11-30: 6,3102024-12-31: 6,0752025-01-31: 5,9802025-02-28: 6,1052025-03-31: 5,9152025-04-30: 5,6752025-05-31: 5,6502025-06-30: 5,6002025-07-31: 5,5452025-08-31: 5,5252025-09-30: 5,4552025-10-31: 5,2852025-11-30: 5,3052025-12-31: 5,2402026-01-31: 5,2152026-02-28: 5,3502026-03-31: 5,4402026-04-30: 5,4652026-05-31: 5,5652026-06-30: 5,6002026-07-31: 5,6452026-08-31: 5,800 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 4,480 to 7,840 · axis starts at 4,077

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

5.7%
5.05.45.82026-01-31: 5.12026-02-28: 5.22026-03-31: 5.32026-04-30: 5.32026-05-31: 5.42026-06-30: 5.52026-07-31: 5.52026-08-31: 5.7 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 5.1 to 5.7 · axis starts at 5.0

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.

32.6%
22.830.638.32020-03-31: 25.52020-06-30: 28.72020-09-30: 29.52020-12-31: 31.02021-03-31: 29.32021-06-30: 25.82021-09-30: 24.32021-12-31: 27.82022-03-31: 32.42022-06-30: 33.22022-09-30: 36.42022-12-31: 27.22023-03-31: 26.12023-06-30: 25.42023-09-30: 25.12023-12-31: 27.02024-03-31: 25.92024-06-30: 31.42024-09-30: 33.92024-12-31: 36.22025-03-31: 36.82025-06-30: 33.32025-09-30: 29.62025-12-31: 32.62026-03-31: 32.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 24.3 to 36.8 · axis starts at 22.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.8, basis not documented by the producer

20.3%
17.227.337.42020-03-31: 32.22020-06-30: 32.32020-09-30: 33.92020-12-31: 34.12021-03-31: 32.22021-06-30: 31.62021-09-30: 35.52021-12-31: 32.22022-03-31: 34.82022-06-30: 30.32022-09-30: 252022-12-31: 30.42023-03-31: 29.52023-06-30: 30.22023-09-30: 24.02023-12-31: 25.62024-03-31: 25.12024-06-30: 20.22024-09-30: 21.42024-12-31: 19.22025-03-31: 20.22025-06-30: 222025-09-30: 21.12025-12-31: 21.82026-03-31: 20.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 19.2 to 35.5 · axis starts at 17.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.8, basis not documented by the producer

6.3%
4.48.011.52020-03-31: 7.82020-06-30: 5.92020-09-30: 5.12020-12-31: 6.52021-03-31: 6.72021-06-30: 7.82021-09-30: 7.22021-12-31: 8.62022-03-31: 7.92022-06-30: 9.02022-09-30: 9.62022-12-31: 7.22023-03-31: 6.72023-06-30: 7.92023-09-30: 8.42023-12-31: 10.72024-03-31: 10.82024-06-30: 7.92024-09-30: 9.32024-12-31: 7.42025-03-31: 5.82025-06-30: 7.32025-09-30: 7.22025-12-31: 6.12026-03-31: 6.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.1 to 10.8 · axis starts at 4.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.5, basis not documented by the producer

24.4%
17.924.330.62020-03-31: 29.42020-06-30: 26.82020-09-30: 25.62020-12-31: 21.12021-03-31: 24.12021-06-30: 27.72021-09-30: 25.92021-12-31: 23.92022-03-31: 19.42022-06-30: 19.12022-09-30: 202022-12-31: 25.62023-03-31: 252023-06-30: 25.42023-09-30: 24.72023-12-31: 202024-03-31: 21.22024-06-30: 25.62024-09-30: 24.32024-12-31: 27.72025-03-31: 27.92025-06-30: 26.32025-09-30: 28.62025-12-31: 23.62026-03-31: 24.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 19.1 to 29.4 · axis starts at 17.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.2, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£17,707
7,20113k19k1997-12-31: 8,3271998-12-31: 8,3341999-12-31: 8,7822000-12-31: 8,7792001-12-31: 9,0842002-12-31: 9,0322003-12-31: 9,4492004-12-31: 9,7752005-12-31: 10k2006-12-31: 11k2007-12-31: 11k2008-12-31: 11k2009-12-31: 11k2010-12-31: 11k2011-12-31: 11k2012-12-31: 11k2013-12-31: 11k2014-12-31: 12k2015-12-31: 12k2016-12-31: 12k2017-12-31: 13k2018-12-31: 14k2019-12-31: 14k2020-12-31: 15k2021-12-31: 15k2022-12-31: 16k2023-12-31: 17k2024-12-31: 18k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 8,327 to 18k · axis starts at 7,201

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,339
1,4621,9482,4332020-01-31: 1,5852020-02-29: 1,5872020-03-31: 1,5792020-04-30: 1,5562020-05-31: 1,5642020-06-30: 1,5992020-07-31: 1,6192020-08-31: 1,6312020-09-30: 1,6522020-10-31: 1,6452020-11-30: 1,6492020-12-31: 1,6692021-01-31: 1,6472021-02-28: 1,6492021-03-31: 1,6692021-04-30: 1,6772021-05-31: 1,6752021-06-30: 1,6802021-07-31: 1,6842021-08-31: 1,6922021-09-30: 1,6982021-10-31: 1,7092021-11-30: 1,7362021-12-31: 1,7452022-01-31: 1,7212022-02-28: 1,7222022-03-31: 1,7672022-04-30: 1,7802022-05-31: 1,7882022-06-30: 1,7942022-07-31: 1,8012022-08-31: 1,8142022-09-30: 1,8512022-10-31: 1,8452022-11-30: 1,9042022-12-31: 1,8722023-01-31: 1,8632023-02-28: 1,8602023-03-31: 1,8852023-04-30: 1,9262023-05-31: 1,9572023-06-30: 2,0152023-07-31: 1,9702023-08-31: 1,9652023-09-30: 1,9822023-10-31: 1,9912023-11-30: 2,0432023-12-31: 2,0292024-01-31: 2,0092024-02-29: 2,0092024-03-31: 2,0302024-04-30: 2,0862024-05-31: 2,1082024-06-30: 2,1042024-07-31: 2,1102024-08-31: 2,1182024-09-30: 2,1142024-10-31: 2,1582024-11-30: 2,1812024-12-31: 2,1662025-01-31: 2,1442025-02-28: 2,1462025-03-31: 2,1612025-04-30: 2,2032025-05-31: 2,2202025-06-30: 2,2212025-07-31: 2,2322025-08-31: 2,2622025-09-30: 2,2492025-10-31: 2,2492025-11-30: 2,2512025-12-31: 2,2742026-01-31: 2,2492026-02-28: 2,2552026-03-31: 2,2702026-04-30: 2,3172026-05-31: 2,3242026-06-30: 2,3352026-07-31: 2,339 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,556 to 2,339 · axis starts at 1,462

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.

64,827
58k62k67k2020-01-31: 60k2020-02-29: 60k2020-03-31: 60k2020-04-30: 59k2020-05-31: 59k2020-06-30: 59k2020-07-31: 59k2020-08-31: 59k2020-09-30: 59k2020-10-31: 60k2020-11-30: 60k2020-12-31: 60k2021-01-31: 59k2021-02-28: 59k2021-03-31: 60k2021-04-30: 60k2021-05-31: 60k2021-06-30: 61k2021-07-31: 61k2021-08-31: 61k2021-09-30: 62k2021-10-31: 62k2021-11-30: 62k2021-12-31: 62k2022-01-31: 62k2022-02-28: 62k2022-03-31: 62k2022-04-30: 62k2022-05-31: 62k2022-06-30: 62k2022-07-31: 63k2022-08-31: 63k2022-09-30: 63k2022-10-31: 63k2022-11-30: 64k2022-12-31: 64k2023-01-31: 63k2023-02-28: 63k2023-03-31: 63k2023-04-30: 63k2023-05-31: 64k2023-06-30: 64k2023-07-31: 64k2023-08-31: 64k2023-09-30: 64k2023-10-31: 65k2023-11-30: 65k2023-12-31: 65k2024-01-31: 64k2024-02-29: 64k2024-03-31: 64k2024-04-30: 65k2024-05-31: 65k2024-06-30: 65k2024-07-31: 65k2024-08-31: 65k2024-09-30: 65k2024-10-31: 65k2024-11-30: 66k2024-12-31: 65k2025-01-31: 65k2025-02-28: 65k2025-03-31: 65k2025-04-30: 65k2025-05-31: 65k2025-06-30: 65k2025-07-31: 65k2025-08-31: 65k2025-09-30: 66k2025-10-31: 66k2025-11-30: 66k2025-12-31: 65k2026-01-31: 65k2026-02-28: 65k2026-03-31: 65k2026-04-30: 65k2026-05-31: 65k2026-06-30: 65k2026-07-31: 65k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 59k to 66k · axis starts at 58k

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
5,555
3,4384,6905,9422010-03-31: 3,7602011-03-31: 3,6802012-03-31: 3,7902013-03-31: 3,8002014-03-31: 3,9852015-03-31: 4,3802016-03-31: 4,4902017-03-31: 4,6552018-03-31: 4,9602019-03-31: 4,9752020-03-31: 4,8952021-03-31: 5,2252022-03-31: 5,7002023-03-31: 5,5202024-03-31: 5,4952025-03-31: 5,555 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,680 to 5,700 · axis starts at 3,438

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

4,165
2,4163,4454,4742010-03-31: 2,6902011-03-31: 2,6152012-03-31: 2,6652013-03-31: 2,6502014-03-31: 2,7802015-03-31: 3,0752016-03-31: 3,2652017-03-31: 3,4252018-03-31: 3,4902019-03-31: 3,6102020-03-31: 3,6052021-03-31: 3,9002022-03-31: 4,2752023-03-31: 4,1452024-03-31: 4,1202025-03-31: 4,165 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,615 to 4,275 · axis starts at 2,416

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

385
2593424262010-03-31: 2952011-03-31: 2752012-03-31: 3002013-03-31: 2952014-03-31: 3302015-03-31: 3452016-03-31: 3352017-03-31: 3452018-03-31: 4102019-03-31: 3552020-03-31: 3652021-03-31: 3802022-03-31: 3902023-03-31: 3802024-03-31: 3852025-03-31: 385 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 275 to 410 · axis starts at 259

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

40
28.83541.22010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 352013-03-31: 302014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 352016-03-31: 352017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 352021-03-31: 352022-03-31: 402023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 402025-03-31: 40 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
4.47.510.62010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5 to 10 · axis starts at 4.4

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

220
1421852282010-03-31: 1502011-03-31: 1502012-03-31: 1652013-03-31: 1852014-03-31: 1802015-03-31: 1802016-03-31: 1802017-03-31: 1902018-03-31: 1952019-03-31: 2002020-03-31: 2052021-03-31: 2052022-03-31: 2052023-03-31: 2102024-03-31: 2102025-03-31: 220 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 150 to 220 · axis starts at 142

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

10
9.412.515.62010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10 to 15 · axis starts at 9.4

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

650
4876307732010-03-31: 5152011-03-31: 5352012-03-31: 5502013-03-31: 5602014-03-31: 5802015-03-31: 6552016-03-31: 5852017-03-31: 5652018-03-31: 7452019-03-31: 6902020-03-31: 5952021-03-31: 6102022-03-31: 6952023-03-31: 6502024-03-31: 6502025-03-31: 650 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 515 to 745 · axis starts at 487

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

70
52.66577.42010-03-31: 602011-03-31: 602012-03-31: 552013-03-31: 602014-03-31: 652015-03-31: 702016-03-31: 702017-03-31: 702018-03-31: 652019-03-31: 752020-03-31: 702021-03-31: 752022-03-31: 752023-03-31: 602024-03-31: 702025-03-31: 70 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 55 to 75 · axis starts at 52.6

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

10
05.611.22010-03-31: 02011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 02015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 52023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 10

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

6,375
4,5495,6656,7812010-03-31: 4,8502011-03-31: 4,7652012-03-31: 4,8802013-03-31: 4,8502014-03-31: 5,0002015-03-31: 5,3852016-03-31: 5,4852017-03-31: 5,6052018-03-31: 5,9352019-03-31: 5,8952020-03-31: 5,8102021-03-31: 6,1202022-03-31: 6,5652023-03-31: 6,3552024-03-31: 6,3452025-03-31: 6,375 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,765 to 6,565 · axis starts at 4,549

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

4,160
1,2122,8444,4761998-12-31: 1,5281999-12-31: 1,5832000-12-31: 1,5962001-12-31: 1,6342002-12-31: 1,7142003-12-31: 1,8512004-12-31: 1,9402005-12-31: 1,9922006-12-31: 2,0502007-12-31: 2,1452008-12-31: 2,2192009-12-31: 2,1642010-12-31: 2,2522011-12-31: 2,3082012-12-31: 2,4512013-12-31: 2,5282014-12-31: 2,6592015-12-31: 2,8272016-12-31: 2,9742017-12-31: 3,0222018-12-31: 3,0522019-12-31: 3,1502020-12-31: 3,1072021-12-31: 3,4832022-12-31: 3,8522023-12-31: 4,160 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 1,528 to 4,160 · axis starts at 1,212

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Blackburn with Darwen

Blackburn with Darwen