The Datum Report

Local area

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

What we think is happening

The job market in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 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
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 14.3% +2.7 in the top 7% of 165
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 11.0% +1.7 in the top 4% of 171
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 3.9% -1.3 in the bottom 6% of 169

By subject

Every figure published for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. 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
11.0%
7.810.212.62020-03-31: 10.22020-06-30: 9.82020-09-30: 10.42020-12-31: 9.82021-03-31: 9.92021-06-30: 10.12021-09-30: 9.82021-12-31: 10.52022-03-31: 11.22022-06-30: 11.02022-09-30: 9.72022-12-31: 11.32023-03-31: 11.02023-06-30: 11.52023-09-30: 12.22023-12-31: 10.52024-03-31: 9.72024-06-30: 9.82024-09-30: 9.02024-12-31: 8.42025-03-31: 8.32025-06-30: 8.62025-09-30: 10.32025-12-31: 9.32026-03-31: 11 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 8.3 to 12.2 · axis starts at 7.8

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
77.4%
73.577.982.22020-03-31: 81.32020-06-30: 79.32020-09-30: 79.22020-12-31: 76.92021-03-31: 76.42021-06-30: 77.12021-09-30: 77.22021-12-31: 76.92022-03-31: 76.92022-06-30: 77.02022-09-30: 76.52022-12-31: 77.72023-03-31: 80.02023-06-30: 79.12023-09-30: 77.92023-12-31: 77.62024-03-31: 74.52024-06-30: 75.12024-09-30: 75.42024-12-31: 74.42025-03-31: 75.92025-06-30: 76.32025-09-30: 77.32025-12-31: 77.92026-03-31: 77.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 74.4 to 81.3 · axis starts at 73.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.7, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.9%
1.83.96.02020-03-31: 2.52020-06-30: 2.82020-09-30: 3.52020-12-31: 4.82021-03-31: 4.82021-06-30: 5.42021-09-30: 5.62021-12-31: 5.42022-03-31: 5.62022-06-30: 4.62022-09-30: 4.22022-12-31: 4.32023-03-31: 3.42023-06-30: 3.92023-09-30: 3.72023-12-31: 3.32024-03-31: 3.32024-06-30: 2.22024-09-30: 2.62024-12-31: 2.32025-03-31: 4.22025-06-30: 4.82025-09-30: 4.92025-12-31: 5.22026-03-31: 3.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 2.2 to 5.6 · axis starts at 1.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.4, basis not documented by the producer

19.5%
15.720.224.72020-03-31: 16.62020-06-30: 18.42020-09-30: 17.92020-12-31: 19.32021-03-31: 19.72021-06-30: 18.52021-09-30: 18.22021-12-31: 18.72022-03-31: 18.62022-06-30: 19.32022-09-30: 20.12022-12-31: 18.92023-03-31: 17.22023-06-30: 17.62023-09-30: 19.12023-12-31: 19.72024-03-31: 22.92024-06-30: 23.32024-09-30: 22.62024-12-31: 23.92025-03-31: 20.82025-06-30: 19.92025-09-30: 18.72025-12-31: 17.82026-03-31: 19.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.6 to 23.9 · axis starts at 15.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.5, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
8,405
4,89011k17k2020-01-31: 6,0852020-02-29: 6,3302020-03-31: 6,5202020-04-30: 12k2020-05-31: 16k2020-06-30: 15k2020-07-31: 15k2020-08-31: 16k2020-09-30: 15k2020-10-31: 15k2020-11-30: 15k2020-12-31: 15k2021-01-31: 15k2021-02-28: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2021-04-30: 15k2021-05-31: 14k2021-06-30: 13k2021-07-31: 12k2021-08-31: 12k2021-09-30: 11k2021-10-31: 10k2021-11-30: 9,8502021-12-31: 9,5602022-01-31: 9,4702022-02-28: 9,5202022-03-31: 9,3152022-04-30: 8,8802022-05-31: 8,4702022-06-30: 8,4052022-07-31: 7,9802022-08-31: 8,0302022-09-30: 7,9152022-10-31: 7,7052022-11-30: 7,9402022-12-31: 8,1952023-01-31: 8,1902023-02-28: 8,2402023-03-31: 8,2502023-04-30: 8,5052023-05-31: 8,1902023-06-30: 8,0452023-07-31: 8,0802023-08-31: 7,7952023-09-30: 7,5252023-10-31: 7,6502023-11-30: 7,8152023-12-31: 8,2402024-01-31: 8,4352024-02-29: 8,6602024-03-31: 8,7252024-04-30: 8,6652024-05-31: 8,6602024-06-30: 8,7202024-07-31: 9,1702024-08-31: 9,1852024-09-30: 9,0652024-10-31: 8,7702024-11-30: 8,6102024-12-31: 8,5302025-01-31: 8,6402025-02-28: 8,9302025-03-31: 8,9902025-04-30: 8,9802025-05-31: 8,7502025-06-30: 8,6752025-07-31: 8,5352025-08-31: 8,3202025-09-30: 8,2302025-10-31: 8,1952025-11-30: 8,3052025-12-31: 8,3902026-01-31: 8,5252026-02-28: 8,7702026-03-31: 8,9052026-04-30: 8,7752026-05-31: 8,7302026-06-30: 8,6302026-07-31: 8,4502026-08-31: 8,405 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 6,085 to 16k · axis starts at 4,890

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

3.3%
3.33.43.52026-01-31: 3.42026-02-28: 3.52026-03-31: 3.52026-04-30: 3.52026-05-31: 3.42026-06-30: 3.42026-07-31: 3.32026-08-31: 3.3 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.3 to 3.5 · axis starts at 3.3

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.

33.8%
19.527.435.32020-03-31: 23.82020-06-30: 26.52020-09-30: 23.32020-12-31: 23.82021-03-31: 25.42021-06-30: 22.72021-09-30: 22.32021-12-31: 22.22022-03-31: 25.22022-06-30: 25.62022-09-30: 24.02022-12-31: 23.92023-03-31: 21.12023-06-30: 23.12023-09-30: 24.42023-12-31: 26.92024-03-31: 27.62024-06-30: 27.02024-09-30: 31.02024-12-31: 30.22025-03-31: 28.62025-06-30: 31.42025-09-30: 30.72025-12-31: 30.82026-03-31: 33.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 21.1 to 33.8 · axis starts at 19.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.7, basis not documented by the producer

14.2%
13.517.221.02020-03-31: 14.42020-06-30: 16.02020-09-30: 16.62020-12-31: 17.62021-03-31: 17.02021-06-30: 18.72021-09-30: 17.62021-12-31: 19.12022-03-31: 20.32022-06-30: 18.52022-09-30: 18.82022-12-31: 18.22023-03-31: 17.22023-06-30: 15.72023-09-30: 20.02023-12-31: 18.62024-03-31: 19.72024-06-30: 19.62024-09-30: 17.32024-12-31: 18.72025-03-31: 18.22025-06-30: 17.62025-09-30: 14.52025-12-31: 14.32026-03-31: 14.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.2 to 20.3 · axis starts at 13.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.9, basis not documented by the producer

14.3%
8.413.819.22020-03-31: 15.32020-06-30: 16.22020-09-30: 17.12020-12-31: 18.22021-03-31: 17.22021-06-30: 17.12021-09-30: 17.82021-12-31: 17.52022-03-31: 13.82022-06-30: 15.72022-09-30: 14.52022-12-31: 13.12023-03-31: 15.82023-06-30: 12.42023-09-30: 9.52023-12-31: 11.52024-03-31: 10.42024-06-30: 10.02024-09-30: 11.02024-12-31: 10.92025-03-31: 10.82025-06-30: 11.82025-09-30: 10.62025-12-31: 11.62026-03-31: 14.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 9.5 to 18.2 · axis starts at 8.4

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

20.8%
19.625.831.92020-03-31: 29.52020-06-30: 27.22020-09-30: 30.72020-12-31: 29.32021-03-31: 25.82021-06-30: 25.22021-09-30: 24.12021-12-31: 22.02022-03-31: 24.72022-06-30: 24.12022-09-30: 26.72022-12-31: 26.02023-03-31: 24.22023-06-30: 25.92023-09-30: 26.92023-12-31: 26.12024-03-31: 25.42024-06-30: 28.42024-09-30: 22.72024-12-31: 22.82025-03-31: 25.52025-06-30: 22.92025-09-30: 26.22025-12-31: 23.12026-03-31: 20.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 20.8 to 30.7 · axis starts at 19.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.7, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 1
£26,164
9,74919k28k1997-12-31: 12k1998-12-31: 12k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 13k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 14k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 16k2007-12-31: 16k2008-12-31: 17k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 18k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 19k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 20k2019-12-31: 21k2020-12-31: 21k2021-12-31: 22k2022-12-31: 23k2023-12-31: 25k2024-12-31: 26k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 12k to 26k · axis starts at 9,749

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
15,600
12k14k16k2010-03-31: 12k2011-03-31: 12k2012-03-31: 12k2013-03-31: 12k2014-03-31: 13k2015-03-31: 14k2016-03-31: 14k2017-03-31: 15k2018-03-31: 15k2019-03-31: 15k2020-03-31: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2022-03-31: 16k2023-03-31: 15k2024-03-31: 15k2025-03-31: 16k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 12k to 16k · axis starts at 12k

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

12,160
8,73311k13k2010-03-31: 9,1352011-03-31: 9,1002012-03-31: 9,2852013-03-31: 9,2202014-03-31: 9,5852015-03-31: 10k2016-03-31: 11k2017-03-31: 11k2018-03-31: 11k2019-03-31: 12k2020-03-31: 12k2021-03-31: 12k2022-03-31: 12k2023-03-31: 12k2024-03-31: 12k2025-03-31: 12k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 9,100 to 12k · axis starts at 8,733

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

850
7018008992010-03-31: 7202011-03-31: 7302012-03-31: 7902013-03-31: 8252014-03-31: 8602015-03-31: 8752016-03-31: 8702017-03-31: 8652018-03-31: 8452019-03-31: 8552020-03-31: 8802021-03-31: 8452022-03-31: 8452023-03-31: 8652024-03-31: 8502025-03-31: 850 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 720 to 880 · axis starts at 701

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

90
77.6901022010-03-31: 802011-03-31: 802012-03-31: 852013-03-31: 902014-03-31: 852015-03-31: 852016-03-31: 902017-03-31: 952018-03-31: 952019-03-31: 952020-03-31: 902021-03-31: 902022-03-31: 902023-03-31: 1002024-03-31: 952025-03-31: 90 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 80 to 100 · axis starts at 77.6

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

20
1820222010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 20 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · unchanged at 20 · axis starts at 18

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

485
4054585102010-03-31: 4502011-03-31: 4152012-03-31: 4452013-03-31: 4652014-03-31: 4602015-03-31: 4802016-03-31: 4952017-03-31: 4952018-03-31: 4802019-03-31: 4802020-03-31: 4852021-03-31: 4752022-03-31: 4852023-03-31: 5002024-03-31: 4902025-03-31: 485 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 415 to 500 · axis starts at 405

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

25
24.427.530.62010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 252017-03-31: 302018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 252023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 25 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25 to 30 · axis starts at 24.4

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

1,755
1,5411,6921,8442010-03-31: 1,6302011-03-31: 1,5702012-03-31: 1,6402013-03-31: 1,5802014-03-31: 1,6702015-03-31: 1,7852016-03-31: 1,7152017-03-31: 1,7352018-03-31: 1,8152019-03-31: 1,7652020-03-31: 1,7002021-03-31: 1,7002022-03-31: 1,7752023-03-31: 1,7752024-03-31: 1,7502025-03-31: 1,755 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,570 to 1,815 · axis starts at 1,541

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

200
1161622092010-03-31: 1252011-03-31: 1252012-03-31: 1252013-03-31: 1402014-03-31: 1552015-03-31: 1502016-03-31: 1552017-03-31: 1602018-03-31: 1652019-03-31: 1852020-03-31: 1902021-03-31: 1852022-03-31: 1852023-03-31: 1702024-03-31: 1802025-03-31: 200 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 125 to 200 · axis starts at 116

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

10
3.81016.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5 to 15 · axis starts at 3.8

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

18,315
15k17k19k2010-03-31: 15k2011-03-31: 15k2012-03-31: 15k2013-03-31: 15k2014-03-31: 16k2015-03-31: 17k2016-03-31: 17k2017-03-31: 18k2018-03-31: 18k2019-03-31: 18k2020-03-31: 18k2021-03-31: 18k2022-03-31: 18k2023-03-31: 18k2024-03-31: 18k2025-03-31: 18k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15k to 18k · axis starts at 15k

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

13,545
3,8599,22115k1998-12-31: 4,8971999-12-31: 5,1772000-12-31: 5,4342001-12-31: 5,6302002-12-31: 5,7622003-12-31: 6,1502004-12-31: 6,4682005-12-31: 6,9072006-12-31: 7,2512007-12-31: 7,5382008-12-31: 7,9362009-12-31: 7,8522010-12-31: 7,8772011-12-31: 8,0162012-12-31: 8,1422013-12-31: 8,5782014-12-31: 8,8792015-12-31: 9,1072016-12-31: 9,6512017-12-31: 10k2018-12-31: 10k2019-12-31: 11k2020-12-31: 10k2021-12-31: 11k2022-12-31: 12k2023-12-31: 14k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 4,897 to 14k · axis starts at 3,859

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole