The Datum Report

Local area

Cheshire West and Chester

What we think is happening

The job market in Cheshire West and Chester 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
Claimant count August 2026 6,020 +275 in the top 5% of 182
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 7.8% -1.3 in the bottom 7% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for Cheshire West and Chester. 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
7.8%
6.59.211.92020-03-31: 10.32020-06-30: 10.02020-09-30: 10.52020-12-31: 10.52021-03-31: 10.02021-06-30: 9.52021-09-30: 9.72021-12-31: 9.02022-03-31: 10.72022-06-30: 9.62022-09-30: 11.42022-12-31: 9.52023-03-31: 7.52023-06-30: 7.62023-09-30: 7.62023-12-31: 7.62024-03-31: 7.52024-06-30: 7.12024-09-30: 7.52024-12-31: 7.42025-03-31: 8.52025-06-30: 9.62025-09-30: 10.42025-12-31: 9.12026-03-31: 7.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.1 to 11.4 · axis starts at 6.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.8, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
81.0%
67.276.084.82020-03-31: 77.82020-06-30: 76.32020-09-30: 77.82020-12-31: 81.42021-03-31: 79.52021-06-30: 81.22021-09-30: 80.02021-12-31: 76.62022-03-31: 78.32022-06-30: 76.82022-09-30: 76.62022-12-31: 72.52023-03-31: 69.82023-06-30: 70.42023-09-30: 68.92023-12-31: 76.52024-03-31: 77.72024-06-30: 80.22024-09-30: 82.92024-12-31: 83.12025-03-31: 81.42025-06-30: 82.72025-09-30: 82.02025-12-31: 81.22026-03-31: 81 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 68.9 to 83.1 · axis starts at 67.2

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
5.1%
1.53.86.02020-03-31: 2.42020-06-30: 3.52020-09-30: 4.12020-12-31: 3.72021-03-31: 3.92021-06-30: 3.12021-09-30: 2.52021-12-31: 2.72022-03-31: 2.02022-06-30: 1.92022-09-30: 2.22022-12-31: 2.52023-03-31: 4.42023-06-30: 3.82023-09-30: 2.92023-12-31: 2.42024-03-31: 2.32024-06-30: 2.02024-09-30: 2.42024-12-31: 2.02025-03-31: 1.92025-06-30: 2.62025-09-30: 3.32025-12-31: 5.62026-03-31: 5.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 1.9 to 5.6 · axis starts at 1.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.5, basis not documented by the producer

14.7%
12.221.530.92020-03-31: 20.22020-06-30: 20.92020-09-30: 18.82020-12-31: 15.52021-03-31: 17.32021-06-30: 16.22021-09-30: 18.02021-12-31: 21.32022-03-31: 202022-06-30: 21.72022-09-30: 21.72022-12-31: 25.62023-03-31: 27.02023-06-30: 26.82023-09-30: 29.02023-12-31: 21.62024-03-31: 20.62024-06-30: 18.12024-09-30: 15.22024-12-31: 15.22025-03-31: 17.02025-06-30: 15.22025-09-30: 15.12025-12-31: 142026-03-31: 14.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14 to 29.0 · axis starts at 12.2

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

Claimant count
August 2026
6,020
4,4748,43212k2020-01-31: 5,2402020-02-29: 5,3352020-03-31: 5,3402020-04-30: 10k2020-05-31: 12k2020-06-30: 11k2020-07-31: 11k2020-08-31: 11k2020-09-30: 11k2020-10-31: 11k2020-11-30: 11k2020-12-31: 10k2021-01-31: 10k2021-02-28: 11k2021-03-31: 11k2021-04-30: 10k2021-05-31: 9,5602021-06-30: 8,8052021-07-31: 8,4502021-08-31: 8,0952021-09-30: 7,5752021-10-31: 7,3152021-11-30: 7,0402021-12-31: 6,6602022-01-31: 6,5402022-02-28: 6,5002022-03-31: 6,2602022-04-30: 5,8002022-05-31: 5,7052022-06-30: 5,6302022-07-31: 5,6052022-08-31: 5,6152022-09-30: 5,6752022-10-31: 5,6102022-11-30: 5,6752022-12-31: 5,7152023-01-31: 5,6852023-02-28: 5,8302023-03-31: 5,9552023-04-30: 5,6952023-05-31: 5,4602023-06-30: 5,4102023-07-31: 5,4202023-08-31: 5,3752023-09-30: 5,3902023-10-31: 5,5252023-11-30: 5,6052023-12-31: 5,4802024-01-31: 5,5252024-02-29: 5,6802024-03-31: 5,7552024-04-30: 5,6752024-05-31: 5,6252024-06-30: 5,6102024-07-31: 6,0602024-08-31: 6,0852024-09-30: 6,0302024-10-31: 5,9902024-11-30: 5,7952024-12-31: 5,7802025-01-31: 5,7902025-02-28: 5,9902025-03-31: 5,9202025-04-30: 5,7652025-05-31: 5,7102025-06-30: 5,6752025-07-31: 5,6552025-08-31: 5,6952025-09-30: 5,6902025-10-31: 5,7252025-11-30: 5,7302025-12-31: 5,6852026-01-31: 5,6902026-02-28: 5,9702026-03-31: 5,9552026-04-30: 5,8752026-05-31: 5,9152026-06-30: 5,8152026-07-31: 5,7452026-08-31: 6,020 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 5,240 to 12k · axis starts at 4,474

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

2.6%
2.52.52.62026-01-31: 2.52026-02-28: 2.62026-03-31: 2.62026-04-30: 2.62026-05-31: 2.62026-06-30: 2.52026-07-31: 2.52026-08-31: 2.6 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.5 to 2.6 · axis starts at 2.5

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.

15.1%
12.723.333.92020-03-31: 17.92020-06-30: 18.72020-09-30: 22.12020-12-31: 19.92021-03-31: 14.82021-06-30: 15.22021-09-30: 20.42021-12-31: 24.12022-03-31: 25.12022-06-30: 21.72022-09-30: 17.72022-12-31: 22.12023-03-31: 28.52023-06-30: 31.32023-09-30: 31.92023-12-31: 22.22024-03-31: 28.52024-06-30: 26.82024-09-30: 31.22024-12-31: 31.52025-03-31: 28.62025-06-30: 29.32025-09-30: 24.02025-12-31: 18.52026-03-31: 15.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.8 to 31.9 · axis starts at 12.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026

9.8%
4.815.125.42020-03-31: 22.02020-06-30: 23.42020-09-30: 20.82020-12-31: 21.22021-03-31: 23.32021-06-30: 20.72021-09-30: 19.82021-12-31: 17.12022-03-31: 8.02022-06-30: 13.62022-09-30: 12.42022-12-31: 14.92023-03-31: 16.42023-06-30: 9.52023-09-30: 12.22023-12-31: 6.82024-03-31: 7.12024-06-30: 14.72024-09-30: 13.22024-12-31: 15.12025-03-31: 15.72025-06-30: 12.12025-09-30: 7.42025-12-31: 10.92026-03-31: 9.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.8 to 23.4 · axis starts at 4.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026

19.7%
13.126.539.92020-03-31: 26.62020-06-30: 26.52020-09-30: 26.82020-12-31: 33.52021-03-31: 36.12021-06-30: 36.22021-09-30: 30.92021-12-31: 30.22022-03-31: 30.12022-06-30: 24.92022-09-30: 28.72022-12-31: 22.12023-03-31: 19.32023-06-30: 19.72023-09-30: 15.72023-12-31: 26.22024-03-31: 24.02024-06-30: 26.82024-09-30: 37.32024-12-31: 33.42025-03-31: 29.72025-06-30: 26.12025-09-30: 23.42025-12-31: 19.32026-03-31: 19.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.7 to 37.3 · axis starts at 13.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±10.7, basis not documented by the producer

37.1%
3.724.344.82020-03-31: 26.62020-06-30: 23.42020-09-30: 22.12020-12-31: 14.92021-03-31: 13.12021-06-30: 16.12021-09-30: 19.32021-12-31: 16.92022-03-31: 22.82022-06-30: 23.52022-09-30: 26.02022-12-31: 23.12023-03-31: 19.92023-06-30: 23.02023-09-30: 24.22023-12-31: 28.32024-03-31: 21.12024-06-30: 17.72024-09-30: 7.72024-12-31: 9.02025-03-31: 18.62025-06-30: 30.32025-09-30: 34.32025-12-31: 40.82026-03-31: 37.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.7 to 40.8 · axis starts at 3.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±13.0, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£25,803
9,09518k28k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 12k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 14k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 16k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 17k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 18k2013-12-31: 18k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 19k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 20k2019-12-31: 21k2020-12-31: 21k2021-12-31: 21k2022-12-31: 23k2023-12-31: 24k2024-12-31: 26k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 26k · axis starts at 9,095

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,618
1,6882,2042,7212020-01-31: 1,8062020-02-29: 1,8172020-03-31: 1,8352020-04-30: 1,7882020-05-31: 1,7922020-06-30: 1,8142020-07-31: 1,8472020-08-31: 1,8772020-09-30: 1,8972020-10-31: 1,9062020-11-30: 1,9032020-12-31: 1,9252021-01-31: 1,8982021-02-28: 1,9112021-03-31: 1,9412021-04-30: 1,9462021-05-31: 1,9492021-06-30: 1,9522021-07-31: 1,9532021-08-31: 1,9662021-09-30: 1,9992021-10-31: 1,9912021-11-30: 1,9682021-12-31: 1,9932022-01-31: 2,0052022-02-28: 2,0202022-03-31: 2,0542022-04-30: 2,0632022-05-31: 2,0622022-06-30: 2,0812022-07-31: 2,0712022-08-31: 2,0952022-09-30: 2,1192022-10-31: 2,1142022-11-30: 2,1732022-12-31: 2,1972023-01-31: 2,1432023-02-28: 2,1572023-03-31: 2,1902023-04-30: 2,2062023-05-31: 2,2292023-06-30: 2,2812023-07-31: 2,2322023-08-31: 2,2402023-09-30: 2,2502023-10-31: 2,2592023-11-30: 2,3082023-12-31: 2,3342024-01-31: 2,2832024-02-29: 2,2932024-03-31: 2,3292024-04-30: 2,3512024-05-31: 2,3702024-06-30: 2,3682024-07-31: 2,3692024-08-31: 2,3742024-09-30: 2,3882024-10-31: 2,4412024-11-30: 2,4582024-12-31: 2,4652025-01-31: 2,4282025-02-28: 2,4412025-03-31: 2,4652025-04-30: 2,4942025-05-31: 2,5052025-06-30: 2,5022025-07-31: 2,5082025-08-31: 2,5332025-09-30: 2,5372025-10-31: 2,5432025-11-30: 2,5432025-12-31: 2,5652026-01-31: 2,5492026-02-28: 2,5542026-03-31: 2,5902026-04-30: 2,6152026-05-31: 2,6212026-06-30: 2,6182026-07-31: 2,618 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,788 to 2,621 · axis starts at 1,688

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.

164,164
152k159k167k2020-01-31: 158k2020-02-29: 157k2020-03-31: 157k2020-04-30: 155k2020-05-31: 155k2020-06-30: 155k2020-07-31: 155k2020-08-31: 155k2020-09-30: 154k2020-10-31: 154k2020-11-30: 154k2020-12-31: 154k2021-01-31: 153k2021-02-28: 153k2021-03-31: 154k2021-04-30: 155k2021-05-31: 156k2021-06-30: 157k2021-07-31: 158k2021-08-31: 159k2021-09-30: 159k2021-10-31: 159k2021-11-30: 160k2021-12-31: 160k2022-01-31: 159k2022-02-28: 159k2022-03-31: 160k2022-04-30: 160k2022-05-31: 160k2022-06-30: 161k2022-07-31: 162k2022-08-31: 162k2022-09-30: 162k2022-10-31: 162k2022-11-30: 163k2022-12-31: 163k2023-01-31: 162k2023-02-28: 162k2023-03-31: 162k2023-04-30: 163k2023-05-31: 163k2023-06-30: 164k2023-07-31: 164k2023-08-31: 164k2023-09-30: 164k2023-10-31: 164k2023-11-30: 164k2023-12-31: 165k2024-01-31: 163k2024-02-29: 163k2024-03-31: 164k2024-04-30: 164k2024-05-31: 164k2024-06-30: 165k2024-07-31: 165k2024-08-31: 165k2024-09-30: 165k2024-10-31: 165k2024-11-30: 165k2024-12-31: 165k2025-01-31: 164k2025-02-28: 163k2025-03-31: 163k2025-04-30: 164k2025-05-31: 164k2025-06-30: 164k2025-07-31: 165k2025-08-31: 165k2025-09-30: 165k2025-10-31: 164k2025-11-30: 165k2025-12-31: 165k2026-01-31: 164k2026-02-28: 163k2026-03-31: 163k2026-04-30: 163k2026-05-31: 164k2026-06-30: 164k2026-07-31: 164k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 153k to 165k · axis starts at 152k

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
13,575
11k13k15k2010-03-31: 11k2011-03-31: 11k2012-03-31: 12k2013-03-31: 12k2014-03-31: 12k2015-03-31: 13k2016-03-31: 14k2017-03-31: 14k2018-03-31: 14k2019-03-31: 14k2020-03-31: 14k2021-03-31: 14k2022-03-31: 14k2023-03-31: 13k2024-03-31: 13k2025-03-31: 14k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 11k to 14k · axis starts at 11k

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

10,475
8,2229,83811k2010-03-31: 8,6202011-03-31: 8,5352012-03-31: 8,7502013-03-31: 8,9002014-03-31: 9,3502015-03-31: 10k2016-03-31: 11k2017-03-31: 11k2018-03-31: 11k2019-03-31: 11k2020-03-31: 11k2021-03-31: 11k2022-03-31: 11k2023-03-31: 10k2024-03-31: 10k2025-03-31: 10k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 8,535 to 11k · axis starts at 8,222

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

835
5777208632010-03-31: 6052011-03-31: 6052012-03-31: 6502013-03-31: 6802014-03-31: 7202015-03-31: 7652016-03-31: 7652017-03-31: 7802018-03-31: 7902019-03-31: 7902020-03-31: 7752021-03-31: 7602022-03-31: 7952023-03-31: 8352024-03-31: 8152025-03-31: 835 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 605 to 835 · axis starts at 577

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

80
62.67587.42010-03-31: 702011-03-31: 652012-03-31: 752013-03-31: 752014-03-31: 752015-03-31: 802016-03-31: 852017-03-31: 802018-03-31: 752019-03-31: 802020-03-31: 802021-03-31: 852022-03-31: 752023-03-31: 802024-03-31: 852025-03-31: 80 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 65 to 85 · axis starts at 62.6

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

15
9.412.515.62010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 15 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

465
3334225122010-03-31: 3702011-03-31: 3502012-03-31: 3552013-03-31: 3902014-03-31: 3902015-03-31: 4102016-03-31: 4352017-03-31: 4352018-03-31: 4402019-03-31: 4452020-03-31: 4602021-03-31: 4652022-03-31: 4802023-03-31: 4952024-03-31: 4852025-03-31: 465 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 350 to 495 · axis starts at 333

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

35
12.62537.42010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 302015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 352021-03-31: 302022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 302024-03-31: 352025-03-31: 35 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 35 · axis starts at 12.6

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

1,515
1,4001,5281,6552010-03-31: 1,4702011-03-31: 1,4502012-03-31: 1,5452013-03-31: 1,4252014-03-31: 1,4802015-03-31: 1,6302016-03-31: 1,5352017-03-31: 1,5552018-03-31: 1,5852019-03-31: 1,6252020-03-31: 1,5652021-03-31: 1,5552022-03-31: 1,6002023-03-31: 1,5202024-03-31: 1,5352025-03-31: 1,515 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,425 to 1,630 · axis starts at 1,400

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

135
1061281492010-03-31: 1102011-03-31: 1202012-03-31: 1202013-03-31: 1152014-03-31: 1302015-03-31: 1352016-03-31: 1352017-03-31: 1352018-03-31: 1302019-03-31: 1352020-03-31: 1452021-03-31: 1402022-03-31: 1352023-03-31: 1452024-03-31: 1402025-03-31: 135 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 110 to 145 · axis starts at 106

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

20
8.81521.22010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 20 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

16,170
13k15k17k2010-03-31: 14k2011-03-31: 14k2012-03-31: 14k2013-03-31: 14k2014-03-31: 15k2015-03-31: 16k2016-03-31: 16k2017-03-31: 17k2018-03-31: 17k2019-03-31: 17k2020-03-31: 17k2021-03-31: 17k2022-03-31: 16k2023-03-31: 16k2024-03-31: 16k2025-03-31: 16k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 14k to 17k · axis starts at 13k

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

14,193
3,7749,54215k1998-12-31: 4,8901999-12-31: 5,2702000-12-31: 5,2132001-12-31: 5,7242002-12-31: 5,8292003-12-31: 6,2402004-12-31: 6,4262005-12-31: 6,7042006-12-31: 7,2302007-12-31: 7,7602008-12-31: 7,8612009-12-31: 8,1872010-12-31: 8,6422011-12-31: 8,5142012-12-31: 8,6752013-12-31: 9,0232014-12-31: 9,4972015-12-31: 9,2352016-12-31: 9,5982017-12-31: 10k2018-12-31: 11k2019-12-31: 11k2020-12-31: 11k2021-12-31: 12k2022-12-31: 13k2023-12-31: 14k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 4,890 to 14k · axis starts at 3,774

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Cheshire West and Chester

Cheshire West and Chester