The Datum Report

Local area

Darlington

What we think is happening

The job market in Darlington 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
% of economically inactive looking after family/home Apr 2025-Mar 2026 22.2% +4.1 in the top 5% of 170
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 37.3% -4.7 in the bottom 6% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for Darlington. 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
5.5%
4.66.78.82020-03-31: 7.62020-06-30: 7.12020-09-30: 7.52020-12-31: 6.72021-03-31: 7.22021-06-30: 7.62021-09-30: 7.42021-12-31: 7.12022-03-31: 7.12022-06-30: 6.52022-09-30: 7.22022-12-31: 6.62023-03-31: 8.12023-06-30: 8.42023-09-30: 7.12023-12-31: 7.72024-03-31: 6.12024-06-30: 5.42024-09-30: 6.42024-12-31: 7.42025-03-31: 7.12025-06-30: 6.82025-09-30: 6.02025-12-31: 52026-03-31: 5.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5 to 8.4 · axis starts at 4.6

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

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
73.7%
71.877.883.82020-03-31: 74.62020-06-30: 73.72020-09-30: 73.92020-12-31: 74.02021-03-31: 72.92021-06-30: 75.02021-09-30: 74.92021-12-31: 76.62022-03-31: 76.82022-06-30: 75.42022-09-30: 75.72022-12-31: 76.62023-03-31: 78.22023-06-30: 80.62023-09-30: 82.62023-12-31: 81.12024-03-31: 80.32024-06-30: 77.82024-09-30: 77.02024-12-31: 78.12025-03-31: 76.72025-06-30: 76.82025-09-30: 75.22025-12-31: 74.42026-03-31: 73.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.9 to 82.6 · axis starts at 71.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.0, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
5.6%
2.04.67.22020-03-31: 6.72020-06-30: 6.42020-09-30: 5.82020-12-31: 5.92021-03-31: 6.22021-06-30: 6.02021-09-30: 5.72021-12-31: 5.52022-03-31: 5.52022-06-30: 4.82022-09-30: 4.22022-12-31: 3.22023-03-31: 2.52023-06-30: 2.62023-09-30: 2.62023-12-31: 3.42024-03-31: 4.82024-06-30: 4.82024-09-30: 3.52024-12-31: 4.42025-03-31: 4.42025-06-30: 3.92025-09-30: 5.62025-12-31: 5.32026-03-31: 5.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 2.5 to 6.7 · axis starts at 2.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.3, basis not documented by the producer

22.0%
14.318.823.22020-03-31: 20.12020-06-30: 21.32020-09-30: 21.42020-12-31: 21.32021-03-31: 22.42021-06-30: 20.22021-09-30: 20.42021-12-31: 19.12022-03-31: 18.92022-06-30: 20.82022-09-30: 21.02022-12-31: 20.92023-03-31: 19.82023-06-30: 17.12023-09-30: 15.12023-12-31: 16.02024-03-31: 15.42024-06-30: 18.22024-09-30: 20.12024-12-31: 18.52025-03-31: 19.72025-06-30: 20.12025-09-30: 20.32025-12-31: 21.42026-03-31: 22 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.1 to 22.4 · axis starts at 14.3

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

Claimant count
August 2026
2,490
2,0133,6005,1872020-01-31: 3,0202020-02-29: 3,0902020-03-31: 3,1452020-04-30: 4,5652020-05-31: 4,8802020-06-30: 4,7352020-07-31: 4,5852020-08-31: 4,6002020-09-30: 4,5652020-10-31: 4,5102020-11-30: 4,4352020-12-31: 4,4602021-01-31: 4,4852021-02-28: 4,6602021-03-31: 4,7052021-04-30: 4,6052021-05-31: 4,4102021-06-30: 4,1252021-07-31: 4,0602021-08-31: 3,8902021-09-30: 3,7002021-10-31: 3,6002021-11-30: 3,4002021-12-31: 3,2902022-01-31: 3,2102022-02-28: 3,1502022-03-31: 2,9802022-04-30: 2,8252022-05-31: 2,7602022-06-30: 2,7052022-07-31: 2,7152022-08-31: 2,7652022-09-30: 2,8202022-10-31: 2,7752022-11-30: 2,8002022-12-31: 2,8202023-01-31: 2,7852023-02-28: 2,8052023-03-31: 2,8552023-04-30: 2,9052023-05-31: 2,7902023-06-30: 2,7852023-07-31: 2,8652023-08-31: 2,8702023-09-30: 2,8202023-10-31: 2,7852023-11-30: 2,7752023-12-31: 2,7652024-01-31: 2,7952024-02-29: 2,8452024-03-31: 2,8102024-04-30: 2,7402024-05-31: 2,6902024-06-30: 2,7252024-07-31: 2,9452024-08-31: 2,9602024-09-30: 2,8602024-10-31: 2,7252024-11-30: 2,7202024-12-31: 2,5852025-01-31: 2,6002025-02-28: 2,6452025-03-31: 2,6202025-04-30: 2,5702025-05-31: 2,5502025-06-30: 2,5252025-07-31: 2,4752025-08-31: 2,5202025-09-30: 2,4552025-10-31: 2,4352025-11-30: 2,3552025-12-31: 2,3202026-01-31: 2,4002026-02-28: 2,4652026-03-31: 2,4652026-04-30: 2,5102026-05-31: 2,5002026-06-30: 2,4402026-07-31: 2,4252026-08-31: 2,490 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 2,320 to 4,880 · axis starts at 2,013

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

3.6%
3.53.63.72026-01-31: 3.52026-02-28: 3.62026-03-31: 3.62026-04-30: 3.72026-05-31: 3.62026-06-30: 3.62026-07-31: 3.52026-08-31: 3.6 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.5 to 3.7 · axis starts at 3.5

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.

37.3%
21.733.244.72020-03-31: 24.42020-06-30: 26.72020-09-30: 25.72020-12-31: 27.72021-03-31: 28.72021-06-30: 28.52021-09-30: 29.22021-12-31: 27.32022-03-31: 26.12022-06-30: 25.22022-09-30: 26.92022-12-31: 30.12023-03-31: 26.82023-06-30: 26.42023-09-30: 24.02023-12-31: 27.52024-03-31: 30.62024-06-30: 33.92024-09-30: 36.72024-12-31: 35.92025-03-31: 42.52025-06-30: 41.92025-09-30: 36.62025-12-31: 422026-03-31: 37.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 24.0 to 42.5 · axis starts at 21.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.3, basis not documented by the producer

22.2%
5.418.030.62020-03-31: 21.32020-06-30: 20.72020-09-30: 21.32020-12-31: 21.22021-03-31: 20.32021-06-30: 21.52021-09-30: 24.62021-12-31: 24.02022-03-31: 26.12022-06-30: 21.42022-09-30: 21.62022-12-31: 25.62023-03-31: 26.82023-06-30: 28.22023-09-30: 252023-12-31: 18.62024-03-31: 14.32024-06-30: 13.02024-09-30: 10.22024-12-31: 12.02025-03-31: 7.92025-06-30: 10.12025-09-30: 19.82025-12-31: 18.12026-03-31: 22.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.9 to 28.2 · axis starts at 5.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.0, basis not documented by the producer

17.3%
11.519.527.62020-03-31: 13.42020-06-30: 14.12020-09-30: 15.42020-12-31: 16.82021-03-31: 16.82021-06-30: 18.52021-09-30: 19.22021-12-31: 19.02022-03-31: 20.22022-06-30: 20.62022-09-30: 19.42022-12-31: 15.02023-03-31: 19.72023-06-30: 24.52023-09-30: 26.02023-12-31: 22.52024-03-31: 19.42024-06-30: 13.02024-09-30: 14.12024-12-31: 19.72025-03-31: 18.92025-06-30: 20.92025-09-30: 20.62025-12-31: 17.82026-03-31: 17.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.0 to 26.0 · axis starts at 11.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.3, basis not documented by the producer

14.7%
5.419.734.12020-03-31: 24.42020-06-30: 24.42020-09-30: 23.52020-12-31: 20.42021-03-31: 19.62021-06-30: 23.12021-09-30: 202021-12-31: 19.02022-03-31: 20.22022-06-30: 17.62022-09-30: 15.72022-12-31: 15.02023-03-31: 9.42023-06-30: 8.22023-09-30: 8.32023-12-31: 17.62024-03-31: 25.52024-06-30: 31.32024-09-30: 28.92024-12-31: 22.22025-03-31: 18.92025-06-30: 16.32025-09-30: 15.32025-12-31: 15.92026-03-31: 14.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 8.2 to 31.3 · axis starts at 5.4

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

Pay 3
£21,587
7,84715k23k1997-12-31: 9,4071998-12-31: 9,3191999-12-31: 9,5132000-12-31: 10k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 12k2007-12-31: 13k2008-12-31: 13k2009-12-31: 13k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 13k2012-12-31: 14k2013-12-31: 14k2014-12-31: 15k2015-12-31: 15k2016-12-31: 16k2017-12-31: 17k2018-12-31: 17k2019-12-31: 18k2020-12-31: 18k2021-12-31: 18k2022-12-31: 19k2023-12-31: 20k2024-12-31: 22k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,319 to 22k · axis starts at 7,847

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,526
1,5912,1082,6262020-01-31: 1,7112020-02-29: 1,7262020-03-31: 1,7162020-04-30: 1,6912020-05-31: 1,7212020-06-30: 1,7332020-07-31: 1,7902020-08-31: 1,7762020-09-30: 1,7932020-10-31: 1,7882020-11-30: 1,8072020-12-31: 1,8142021-01-31: 1,7932021-02-28: 1,7862021-03-31: 1,7972021-04-30: 1,8242021-05-31: 1,8592021-06-30: 1,8422021-07-31: 1,8452021-08-31: 1,8532021-09-30: 1,8622021-10-31: 1,8752021-11-30: 1,8862021-12-31: 1,9092022-01-31: 1,8612022-02-28: 1,8762022-03-31: 1,9012022-04-30: 1,9252022-05-31: 1,9542022-06-30: 1,9532022-07-31: 1,9782022-08-31: 1,9822022-09-30: 2,0282022-10-31: 2,0342022-11-30: 2,0772022-12-31: 2,0712023-01-31: 2,0092023-02-28: 2,0352023-03-31: 2,0512023-04-30: 2,0892023-05-31: 2,1212023-06-30: 2,1762023-07-31: 2,1462023-08-31: 2,1582023-09-30: 2,1382023-10-31: 2,1572023-11-30: 2,2202023-12-31: 2,1932024-01-31: 2,1522024-02-29: 2,1782024-03-31: 2,2272024-04-30: 2,2342024-05-31: 2,2542024-06-30: 2,2442024-07-31: 2,2852024-08-31: 2,2642024-09-30: 2,2762024-10-31: 2,3232024-11-30: 2,3682024-12-31: 2,3382025-01-31: 2,2912025-02-28: 2,3042025-03-31: 2,3072025-04-30: 2,3702025-05-31: 2,3792025-06-30: 2,3832025-07-31: 2,4202025-08-31: 2,4352025-09-30: 2,4072025-10-31: 2,4112025-11-30: 2,4142025-12-31: 2,4272026-01-31: 2,4112026-02-28: 2,4182026-03-31: 2,4302026-04-30: 2,4802026-05-31: 2,4892026-06-30: 2,4982026-07-31: 2,526 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,691 to 2,526 · axis starts at 1,591

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.

49,548
46k48k50k2020-01-31: 47k2020-02-29: 47k2020-03-31: 47k2020-04-30: 46k2020-05-31: 46k2020-06-30: 46k2020-07-31: 46k2020-08-31: 46k2020-09-30: 46k2020-10-31: 46k2020-11-30: 47k2020-12-31: 46k2021-01-31: 46k2021-02-28: 46k2021-03-31: 46k2021-04-30: 47k2021-05-31: 47k2021-06-30: 47k2021-07-31: 48k2021-08-31: 48k2021-09-30: 48k2021-10-31: 48k2021-11-30: 48k2021-12-31: 48k2022-01-31: 48k2022-02-28: 48k2022-03-31: 48k2022-04-30: 48k2022-05-31: 48k2022-06-30: 49k2022-07-31: 49k2022-08-31: 49k2022-09-30: 49k2022-10-31: 49k2022-11-30: 49k2022-12-31: 49k2023-01-31: 49k2023-02-28: 49k2023-03-31: 49k2023-04-30: 49k2023-05-31: 49k2023-06-30: 49k2023-07-31: 49k2023-08-31: 49k2023-09-30: 50k2023-10-31: 50k2023-11-30: 50k2023-12-31: 50k2024-01-31: 49k2024-02-29: 49k2024-03-31: 49k2024-04-30: 49k2024-05-31: 49k2024-06-30: 50k2024-07-31: 50k2024-08-31: 49k2024-09-30: 49k2024-10-31: 50k2024-11-30: 50k2024-12-31: 49k2025-01-31: 49k2025-02-28: 49k2025-03-31: 49k2025-04-30: 49k2025-05-31: 49k2025-06-30: 49k2025-07-31: 49k2025-08-31: 49k2025-09-30: 49k2025-10-31: 50k2025-11-30: 50k2025-12-31: 50k2026-01-31: 49k2026-02-28: 49k2026-03-31: 49k2026-04-30: 49k2026-05-31: 49k2026-06-30: 50k2026-07-31: 50k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 46k to 50k · axis starts at 46k

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
3,390
2,4113,0283,6442010-03-31: 2,5902011-03-31: 2,5302012-03-31: 2,6252013-03-31: 2,6352014-03-31: 2,6852015-03-31: 3,0202016-03-31: 3,1002017-03-31: 3,2152018-03-31: 3,1652019-03-31: 3,5252020-03-31: 3,2852021-03-31: 3,2852022-03-31: 3,4852023-03-31: 3,3802024-03-31: 3,3302025-03-31: 3,390 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,530 to 3,525 · axis starts at 2,411

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

2,600
1,7312,2152,6992010-03-31: 1,8602011-03-31: 1,8252012-03-31: 1,8852013-03-31: 1,9002014-03-31: 1,9202015-03-31: 2,2102016-03-31: 2,3202017-03-31: 2,4152018-03-31: 2,3602019-03-31: 2,4802020-03-31: 2,4902021-03-31: 2,5002022-03-31: 2,6052023-03-31: 2,5302024-03-31: 2,5202025-03-31: 2,600 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,825 to 2,605 · axis starts at 1,731

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

180
1542383212010-03-31: 1952011-03-31: 1702012-03-31: 2002013-03-31: 2002014-03-31: 2002015-03-31: 1952016-03-31: 1852017-03-31: 1952018-03-31: 1952019-03-31: 3052020-03-31: 2002021-03-31: 2102022-03-31: 2402023-03-31: 2152024-03-31: 1952025-03-31: 180 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 170 to 305 · axis starts at 154

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

20
13.82026.22010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 20 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 25 · axis starts at 13.8

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

15
3.81016.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 15 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

120
1031151272010-03-31: 1052011-03-31: 1052012-03-31: 1102013-03-31: 1202014-03-31: 1202015-03-31: 1202016-03-31: 1202017-03-31: 1202018-03-31: 1202019-03-31: 1202020-03-31: 1102021-03-31: 1052022-03-31: 1152023-03-31: 1202024-03-31: 1252025-03-31: 120 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 105 to 125 · axis starts at 103

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

10
3.81016.22010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 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

400
3234385522010-03-31: 3652011-03-31: 3652012-03-31: 3602013-03-31: 3452014-03-31: 3652015-03-31: 4102016-03-31: 4002017-03-31: 4002018-03-31: 4002019-03-31: 5302020-03-31: 4002021-03-31: 3802022-03-31: 4452023-03-31: 4252024-03-31: 4052025-03-31: 400 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 345 to 530 · axis starts at 323

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

35
23.232.541.82010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 352016-03-31: 352017-03-31: 402018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 402023-03-31: 352024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 35 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25 to 40 · axis starts at 23.2

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

10
05.611.22010-03-31: 02011-03-31: 02012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 52023-03-31: 52024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 10

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

4,190
3,3663,9054,4442010-03-31: 3,5352011-03-31: 3,4702012-03-31: 3,5102013-03-31: 3,5002014-03-31: 3,5502015-03-31: 3,8902016-03-31: 3,9602017-03-31: 4,0752018-03-31: 4,0152019-03-31: 4,3402020-03-31: 4,1152021-03-31: 4,1052022-03-31: 4,3202023-03-31: 4,1752024-03-31: 4,1302025-03-31: 4,190 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,470 to 4,340 · axis starts at 3,366

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

3,025
1,3372,2723,2061998-12-31: 1,5181999-12-31: 1,5532000-12-31: 1,6712001-12-31: 1,7772002-12-31: 1,8992003-12-31: 2,0222004-12-31: 2,1572005-12-31: 2,1422006-12-31: 2,1792007-12-31: 2,1382008-12-31: 2,2672009-12-31: 2,1452010-12-31: 2,2092011-12-31: 2,2642012-12-31: 2,2852013-12-31: 2,3222014-12-31: 2,5752015-12-31: 2,7252016-12-31: 2,5752017-12-31: 2,5612018-12-31: 2,5292019-12-31: 2,5042020-12-31: 2,3012021-12-31: 2,5152022-12-31: 2,7332023-12-31: 3,025 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 1,518 to 3,025 · axis starts at 1,337

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Darlington

Darlington