The Datum Report

Local area

Cheshire East

What we think is happening

The job market in Cheshire East has been weakening.

deteriorating · established 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 long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 30.7% +8.2 in the top 1% of 171
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 17.2% -8.2 in the bottom 1% of 171
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 15.8% -4.5 in the bottom 4% of 165
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 18.6% -1.9 in the bottom 8% of 171

Moving with the rest of the country

Shown separately because these say something about the country rather than about Cheshire East.

By subject

Every figure published for Cheshire East. 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
13.8%
5.210.014.72020-03-31: 10.52020-06-30: 9.52020-09-30: 8.62020-12-31: 8.62021-03-31: 9.42021-06-30: 9.72021-09-30: 10.02021-12-31: 9.42022-03-31: 9.32022-06-30: 9.82022-09-30: 10.52022-12-31: 9.82023-03-31: 8.72023-06-30: 9.42023-09-30: 6.12023-12-31: 7.32024-03-31: 6.62024-06-30: 6.82024-09-30: 6.92024-12-31: 7.82025-03-31: 9.32025-06-30: 9.12025-09-30: 12.02025-12-31: 13.22026-03-31: 13.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.1 to 13.8 · axis starts at 5.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.5, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
78.3%
71.177.884.62020-03-31: 81.72020-06-30: 80.42020-09-30: 76.42020-12-31: 76.22021-03-31: 72.52021-06-30: 72.82021-09-30: 72.62021-12-31: 72.42022-03-31: 74.02022-06-30: 73.32022-09-30: 78.82022-12-31: 79.02023-03-31: 82.02023-06-30: 82.42023-09-30: 81.92023-12-31: 83.32024-03-31: 81.62024-06-30: 80.52024-09-30: 79.32024-12-31: 79.72025-03-31: 78.82025-06-30: 79.92025-09-30: 80.02025-12-31: 772026-03-31: 78.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.4 to 83.3 · axis starts at 71.1

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

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.8%
1.63.55.32020-03-31: 4.32020-06-30: 3.32020-09-30: 3.92020-12-31: 4.32021-03-31: 4.02021-06-30: 5.02021-09-30: 4.92021-12-31: 3.22022-03-31: 4.82022-06-30: 4.32022-09-30: 3.52022-12-31: 4.12023-03-31: 3.62023-06-30: 3.12023-09-30: 1.92023-12-31: 2.62024-03-31: 3.32024-06-30: 4.02024-09-30: 4.82024-12-31: 3.92025-03-31: 3.72025-06-30: 3.22025-09-30: 2.82025-12-31: 3.22026-03-31: 3.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 1.9 to 5.0 · axis starts at 1.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026

18.6%
13.219.826.42020-03-31: 14.62020-06-30: 16.82020-09-30: 20.42020-12-31: 20.32021-03-31: 24.52021-06-30: 23.32021-09-30: 23.72021-12-31: 25.22022-03-31: 22.22022-06-30: 23.42022-09-30: 18.32022-12-31: 17.72023-03-31: 15.12023-06-30: 15.02023-09-30: 16.42023-12-31: 14.52024-03-31: 15.62024-06-30: 16.22024-09-30: 16.72024-12-31: 17.12025-03-31: 18.22025-06-30: 17.52025-09-30: 17.62025-12-31: 20.52026-03-31: 18.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.5 to 25.2 · axis starts at 13.2

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

Claimant count
August 2026
6,015
3,6467,69812k2020-01-31: 4,4302020-02-29: 4,6152020-03-31: 4,6552020-04-30: 8,8902020-05-31: 11k2020-06-30: 10k2020-07-31: 11k2020-08-31: 11k2020-09-30: 11k2020-10-31: 10k2020-11-30: 11k2020-12-31: 10k2021-01-31: 10k2021-02-28: 11k2021-03-31: 11k2021-04-30: 10k2021-05-31: 9,4802021-06-30: 8,6252021-07-31: 8,3902021-08-31: 7,8802021-09-30: 7,5202021-10-31: 7,1402021-11-30: 6,7752021-12-31: 6,5552022-01-31: 6,3452022-02-28: 6,3202022-03-31: 6,0502022-04-30: 5,7702022-05-31: 5,6752022-06-30: 5,6702022-07-31: 5,5802022-08-31: 5,6052022-09-30: 5,5752022-10-31: 5,5252022-11-30: 5,6202022-12-31: 5,6452023-01-31: 5,5402023-02-28: 5,6552023-03-31: 5,7652023-04-30: 5,7502023-05-31: 5,4402023-06-30: 5,5202023-07-31: 5,5602023-08-31: 5,6052023-09-30: 5,5902023-10-31: 5,5902023-11-30: 5,7302023-12-31: 5,6852024-01-31: 5,5952024-02-29: 5,8302024-03-31: 5,8552024-04-30: 5,7502024-05-31: 5,6902024-06-30: 5,6852024-07-31: 6,0852024-08-31: 6,1202024-09-30: 6,0452024-10-31: 5,8952024-11-30: 5,7302024-12-31: 5,6652025-01-31: 5,5752025-02-28: 5,9552025-03-31: 5,8052025-04-30: 5,5652025-05-31: 5,4552025-06-30: 5,5552025-07-31: 5,4652025-08-31: 5,5052025-09-30: 5,5002025-10-31: 5,4502025-11-30: 5,4802025-12-31: 5,5402026-01-31: 5,5752026-02-28: 5,8802026-03-31: 5,9902026-04-30: 5,8702026-05-31: 5,8652026-06-30: 5,9552026-07-31: 5,8602026-08-31: 6,015 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 4,430 to 11k · axis starts at 3,646

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

2.4%
2.22.32.42026-01-31: 2.22026-02-28: 2.32026-03-31: 2.42026-04-30: 2.32026-05-31: 2.32026-06-30: 2.42026-07-31: 2.32026-08-31: 2.4 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.2 to 2.4 · axis starts at 2.2

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.

30.7%
7.820.533.22020-03-31: 28.92020-06-30: 24.22020-09-30: 21.82020-12-31: 21.12021-03-31: 24.02021-06-30: 24.62021-09-30: 22.02021-12-31: 21.32022-03-31: 20.62022-06-30: 19.72022-09-30: 15.92022-12-31: 20.32023-03-31: 21.92023-06-30: 19.42023-09-30: 19.12023-12-31: 13.82024-03-31: 11.72024-06-30: 10.22024-09-30: 11.52024-12-31: 14.22025-03-31: 10.92025-06-30: 17.32025-09-30: 19.62025-12-31: 22.52026-03-31: 30.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 10.2 to 30.7 · axis starts at 7.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±10.5, basis not documented by the producer

24.0%
9.317.425.62020-03-31: 15.42020-06-30: 12.82020-09-30: 15.12020-12-31: 15.42021-03-31: 12.82021-06-30: 14.02021-09-30: 15.12021-12-31: 14.62022-03-31: 20.02022-06-30: 21.22022-09-30: 19.12022-12-31: 16.82023-03-31: 13.52024-03-31: 12.82024-06-30: 19.42024-09-30: 14.42024-12-31: 11.92025-03-31: 10.92025-06-30: 11.02025-09-30: 16.62025-12-31: 21.92026-03-31: 24 2020-03 2026-03
22 monthly readings · 10.9 to 24 · axis starts at 9.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.7, basis not documented by the producer
3 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

15.8%
13.824.034.32020-03-31: 17.52020-06-30: 22.32020-09-30: 20.32020-12-31: 19.62021-03-31: 23.02021-06-30: 24.22021-09-30: 24.92021-12-31: 27.22022-03-31: 25.82022-06-30: 25.02022-09-30: 32.32022-12-31: 27.92023-03-31: 29.02023-06-30: 31.32023-09-30: 21.92023-12-31: 26.62024-03-31: 23.12024-06-30: 19.42024-09-30: 28.32024-12-31: 22.82025-03-31: 26.42025-06-30: 24.32025-09-30: 18.82025-12-31: 20.32026-03-31: 15.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.8 to 32.3 · axis starts at 13.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.3, basis not documented by the producer

17.2%
13.626.038.52020-03-31: 162020-06-30: 18.12020-09-30: 24.52020-12-31: 27.32021-03-31: 31.02021-06-30: 29.22021-09-30: 27.72021-12-31: 29.12022-03-31: 24.22022-06-30: 24.52022-09-30: 26.22022-12-31: 27.72023-03-31: 29.92023-06-30: 35.82023-09-30: 36.12023-12-31: 30.02024-03-31: 27.12024-06-30: 29.12024-09-30: 30.22024-12-31: 31.92025-03-31: 34.92025-06-30: 27.32025-09-30: 26.72025-12-31: 25.42026-03-31: 17.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16 to 36.1 · axis starts at 13.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.6, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£29,202
9,82421k31k1997-12-31: 12k1998-12-31: 12k1999-12-31: 13k2000-12-31: 13k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 14k2003-12-31: 15k2004-12-31: 15k2005-12-31: 16k2006-12-31: 16k2007-12-31: 17k2008-12-31: 17k2009-12-31: 18k2010-12-31: 18k2011-12-31: 18k2012-12-31: 18k2013-12-31: 20k2014-12-31: 20k2015-12-31: 22k2016-12-31: 22k2017-12-31: 22k2018-12-31: 24k2019-12-31: 24k2020-12-31: 24k2021-12-31: 25k2022-12-31: 26k2023-12-31: 28k2024-12-31: 29k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 12k to 29k · axis starts at 9,824

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,673
1,7132,2462,7802020-01-31: 1,8492020-02-29: 1,8592020-03-31: 1,8632020-04-30: 1,8162020-05-31: 1,8252020-06-30: 1,8482020-07-31: 1,8792020-08-31: 1,9012020-09-30: 1,9162020-10-31: 1,9362020-11-30: 1,9452020-12-31: 1,9932021-01-31: 1,9482021-02-28: 1,9452021-03-31: 1,9822021-04-30: 1,9942021-05-31: 1,9872021-06-30: 1,9912021-07-31: 2,0022021-08-31: 2,0082021-09-30: 2,0442021-10-31: 2,0512021-11-30: 2,0302021-12-31: 2,0722022-01-31: 2,0642022-02-28: 2,0752022-03-31: 2,1132022-04-30: 2,1142022-05-31: 2,1152022-06-30: 2,1232022-07-31: 2,1182022-08-31: 2,1322022-09-30: 2,1812022-10-31: 2,1762022-11-30: 2,2322022-12-31: 2,2552023-01-31: 2,2142023-02-28: 2,2062023-03-31: 2,2572023-04-30: 2,2702023-05-31: 2,2882023-06-30: 2,3512023-07-31: 2,2832023-08-31: 2,2922023-09-30: 2,3032023-10-31: 2,3162023-11-30: 2,3682023-12-31: 2,4042024-01-31: 2,3522024-02-29: 2,3492024-03-31: 2,3832024-04-30: 2,4102024-05-31: 2,4212024-06-30: 2,4202024-07-31: 2,4192024-08-31: 2,4332024-09-30: 2,4392024-10-31: 2,5112024-11-30: 2,5172024-12-31: 2,5362025-01-31: 2,4842025-02-28: 2,4832025-03-31: 2,5292025-04-30: 2,5452025-05-31: 2,5432025-06-30: 2,5452025-07-31: 2,5502025-08-31: 2,5812025-09-30: 2,5832025-10-31: 2,5972025-11-30: 2,5982025-12-31: 2,6292026-01-31: 2,5962026-02-28: 2,5992026-03-31: 2,6332026-04-30: 2,6772026-05-31: 2,6732026-06-30: 2,6642026-07-31: 2,673 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,816 to 2,677 · axis starts at 1,713

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.

186,028
170k179k188k2020-01-31: 174k2020-02-29: 174k2020-03-31: 174k2020-04-30: 172k2020-05-31: 172k2020-06-30: 172k2020-07-31: 173k2020-08-31: 172k2020-09-30: 172k2020-10-31: 172k2020-11-30: 173k2020-12-31: 173k2021-01-31: 172k2021-02-28: 172k2021-03-31: 173k2021-04-30: 174k2021-05-31: 175k2021-06-30: 176k2021-07-31: 178k2021-08-31: 178k2021-09-30: 179k2021-10-31: 178k2021-11-30: 179k2021-12-31: 179k2022-01-31: 179k2022-02-28: 179k2022-03-31: 180k2022-04-30: 180k2022-05-31: 181k2022-06-30: 181k2022-07-31: 182k2022-08-31: 182k2022-09-30: 183k2022-10-31: 183k2022-11-30: 184k2022-12-31: 184k2023-01-31: 183k2023-02-28: 183k2023-03-31: 183k2023-04-30: 184k2023-05-31: 185k2023-06-30: 185k2023-07-31: 186k2023-08-31: 186k2023-09-30: 186k2023-10-31: 186k2023-11-30: 186k2023-12-31: 186k2024-01-31: 185k2024-02-29: 185k2024-03-31: 185k2024-04-30: 185k2024-05-31: 186k2024-06-30: 186k2024-07-31: 186k2024-08-31: 186k2024-09-30: 186k2024-10-31: 186k2024-11-30: 186k2024-12-31: 186k2025-01-31: 185k2025-02-28: 185k2025-03-31: 185k2025-04-30: 185k2025-05-31: 185k2025-06-30: 186k2025-07-31: 186k2025-08-31: 186k2025-09-30: 186k2025-10-31: 186k2025-11-30: 186k2025-12-31: 186k2026-01-31: 185k2026-02-28: 185k2026-03-31: 185k2026-04-30: 185k2026-05-31: 186k2026-06-30: 186k2026-07-31: 186k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 172k to 186k · axis starts at 170k

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
19,460
16k18k21k2010-03-31: 16k2011-03-31: 16k2012-03-31: 16k2013-03-31: 17k2014-03-31: 17k2015-03-31: 18k2016-03-31: 19k2017-03-31: 20k2018-03-31: 20k2019-03-31: 20k2020-03-31: 19k2021-03-31: 20k2022-03-31: 20k2023-03-31: 19k2024-03-31: 19k2025-03-31: 19k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 16k to 20k · axis starts at 16k

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

15,315
12k14k16k2010-03-31: 13k2011-03-31: 13k2012-03-31: 13k2013-03-31: 13k2014-03-31: 13k2015-03-31: 14k2016-03-31: 15k2017-03-31: 16k2018-03-31: 16k2019-03-31: 15k2020-03-31: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2022-03-31: 15k2023-03-31: 15k2024-03-31: 15k2025-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 13k to 16k · axis starts at 12k

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

1,110
7919681,1442010-03-31: 8802011-03-31: 8252012-03-31: 9502013-03-31: 9852014-03-31: 1,0102015-03-31: 1,0352016-03-31: 1,0202017-03-31: 1,0352018-03-31: 1,0352019-03-31: 1,0402020-03-31: 1,0202021-03-31: 1,0252022-03-31: 1,0302023-03-31: 1,0652024-03-31: 1,0352025-03-31: 1,110 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 825 to 1,110 · axis starts at 791

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

105
64.692.51202010-03-31: 702011-03-31: 702012-03-31: 702013-03-31: 952014-03-31: 952015-03-31: 1052016-03-31: 1052017-03-31: 1102018-03-31: 1102019-03-31: 1152020-03-31: 1102021-03-31: 1152022-03-31: 1102023-03-31: 1152024-03-31: 1152025-03-31: 105 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 70 to 115 · axis starts at 64.6

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

20
14.417.520.62010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 20 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 20 · axis starts at 14.4

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

595
4335456572010-03-31: 4652011-03-31: 4552012-03-31: 5002013-03-31: 5052014-03-31: 5552015-03-31: 5852016-03-31: 5852017-03-31: 6152018-03-31: 6002019-03-31: 6152020-03-31: 6152021-03-31: 6002022-03-31: 6152023-03-31: 6352024-03-31: 5902025-03-31: 595 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 455 to 635 · axis starts at 433

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

30
23.83036.22010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 302015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 352017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 302021-03-31: 352022-03-31: 302023-03-31: 352024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 30 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25 to 35 · axis starts at 23.8

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

2,075
1,9722,1422,3132010-03-31: 2,0102011-03-31: 2,0052012-03-31: 2,0352013-03-31: 2,0402014-03-31: 2,1752015-03-31: 2,2802016-03-31: 2,0902017-03-31: 2,2252018-03-31: 2,2052019-03-31: 2,1502020-03-31: 2,1652021-03-31: 2,1902022-03-31: 2,2552023-03-31: 2,1952024-03-31: 2,1402025-03-31: 2,075 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,005 to 2,280 · axis starts at 1,972

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

190
1231601972010-03-31: 1352011-03-31: 1302012-03-31: 1302013-03-31: 1352014-03-31: 1552015-03-31: 1652016-03-31: 1802017-03-31: 1752018-03-31: 1802019-03-31: 1702020-03-31: 1652021-03-31: 1602022-03-31: 1652023-03-31: 1702024-03-31: 1852025-03-31: 190 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 130 to 190 · axis starts at 123

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

20
8.217.526.82010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 252023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 20 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10 to 25 · axis starts at 8.2

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

22,075
18k21k23k2010-03-31: 19k2011-03-31: 19k2012-03-31: 19k2013-03-31: 19k2014-03-31: 20k2015-03-31: 21k2016-03-31: 21k2017-03-31: 23k2018-03-31: 23k2019-03-31: 22k2020-03-31: 22k2021-03-31: 22k2022-03-31: 22k2023-03-31: 22k2024-03-31: 22k2025-03-31: 22k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 19k to 23k · axis starts at 18k

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

16,927
4,62211k18k1998-12-31: 5,9401999-12-31: 6,2182000-12-31: 6,4582001-12-31: 7,5422002-12-31: 7,7712003-12-31: 7,4842004-12-31: 8,3572005-12-31: 8,8842006-12-31: 9,5752007-12-31: 9,7692008-12-31: 9,7002009-12-31: 9,4522010-12-31: 9,8372011-12-31: 10k2012-12-31: 11k2013-12-31: 11k2014-12-31: 12k2015-12-31: 12k2016-12-31: 13k2017-12-31: 13k2018-12-31: 14k2019-12-31: 14k2020-12-31: 14k2021-12-31: 14k2022-12-31: 16k2023-12-31: 17k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 5,940 to 17k · axis starts at 4,622

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Cheshire East

Cheshire East