The Datum Report

Local area

Dorset

What we think is happening

The job market in Dorset 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 looking after family/home Apr 2025-Mar 2026 15.7% +6.3 in the top 2% of 170
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 25.3% -6.6 in the bottom 2% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for Dorset. 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
11.4%
10.913.516.12020-03-31: 13.92020-06-30: 15.32020-09-30: 14.42020-12-31: 13.02021-03-31: 13.12021-06-30: 12.72021-09-30: 12.62021-12-31: 13.82022-03-31: 13.12022-06-30: 12.72022-09-30: 13.62022-12-31: 12.52023-03-31: 13.92023-06-30: 14.32023-09-30: 14.32023-12-31: 14.52024-03-31: 14.32024-06-30: 15.62024-09-30: 14.72024-12-31: 14.32025-03-31: 14.12025-06-30: 13.12025-09-30: 11.42025-12-31: 11.82026-03-31: 11.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 11.4 to 15.6 · axis starts at 10.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.6, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
80.1%
73.378.283.12020-03-31: 76.22020-06-30: 77.02020-09-30: 76.42020-12-31: 77.02021-03-31: 77.22021-06-30: 76.72021-09-30: 75.42021-12-31: 75.22022-03-31: 74.52022-06-30: 74.22022-09-30: 75.32022-12-31: 76.72023-03-31: 78.32023-06-30: 77.12023-09-30: 79.52023-12-31: 80.32024-03-31: 79.62024-06-30: 82.22024-09-30: 78.52024-12-31: 77.62025-03-31: 75.92025-06-30: 79.02025-09-30: 81.52025-12-31: 81.12026-03-31: 80.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 74.2 to 82.2 · axis starts at 73.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.3, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
4.6%
1.23.15.02020-03-31: 2.72020-06-30: 3.22020-09-30: 3.32020-12-31: 3.92021-03-31: 3.82021-06-30: 3.12021-09-30: 4.42021-12-31: 4.42022-03-31: 3.42022-06-30: 3.52022-09-30: 2.02022-12-31: 1.72023-03-31: 1.52023-06-30: 2.62023-09-30: 2.52023-12-31: 2.22024-03-31: 2.82024-06-30: 2.22024-09-30: 3.62024-12-31: 3.22025-03-31: 3.82025-06-30: 3.12025-09-30: 2.62025-12-31: 4.32026-03-31: 4.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 1.5 to 4.6 · axis starts at 1.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.9, basis not documented by the producer

16.0%
14.419.224.02020-03-31: 21.72020-06-30: 20.52020-09-30: 21.02020-12-31: 19.92021-03-31: 19.82021-06-30: 20.82021-09-30: 21.12021-12-31: 21.42022-03-31: 22.92022-06-30: 23.12022-09-30: 23.12022-12-31: 22.02023-03-31: 20.52023-06-30: 20.92023-09-30: 18.42023-12-31: 17.92024-03-31: 18.22024-06-30: 16.02024-09-30: 18.62024-12-31: 19.82025-03-31: 21.22025-06-30: 18.42025-09-30: 16.42025-12-31: 15.32026-03-31: 16 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.3 to 23.1 · axis starts at 14.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.0, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
4,900
2,9516,77011k2020-01-31: 3,6902020-02-29: 3,7552020-03-31: 3,7302020-04-30: 7,6252020-05-31: 9,8502020-06-30: 9,2352020-07-31: 9,4352020-08-31: 9,5052020-09-30: 9,2452020-10-31: 8,7152020-11-30: 8,9152020-12-31: 9,0052021-01-31: 8,9202021-02-28: 9,5602021-03-31: 9,5152021-04-30: 9,2852021-05-31: 8,3602021-06-30: 7,3952021-07-31: 7,1502021-08-31: 6,6852021-09-30: 6,2302021-10-31: 6,0202021-11-30: 5,7952021-12-31: 5,7152022-01-31: 5,8002022-02-28: 5,8352022-03-31: 5,6802022-04-30: 5,2602022-05-31: 4,9452022-06-30: 4,7902022-07-31: 4,6402022-08-31: 4,6902022-09-30: 4,6752022-10-31: 4,6652022-11-30: 4,7752022-12-31: 4,9052023-01-31: 4,9052023-02-28: 4,9052023-03-31: 4,9602023-04-30: 4,9102023-05-31: 4,7302023-06-30: 4,6252023-07-31: 4,5702023-08-31: 4,4952023-09-30: 4,4602023-10-31: 4,5252023-11-30: 4,6452023-12-31: 4,7852024-01-31: 4,9502024-02-29: 5,2102024-03-31: 5,2002024-04-30: 5,0802024-05-31: 5,0102024-06-30: 5,0752024-07-31: 5,4452024-08-31: 5,4552024-09-30: 5,3552024-10-31: 5,2852024-11-30: 5,2202024-12-31: 5,2102025-01-31: 5,3502025-02-28: 5,4802025-03-31: 5,4552025-04-30: 5,2702025-05-31: 5,0302025-06-30: 5,0002025-07-31: 4,8552025-08-31: 4,7252025-09-30: 4,7252025-10-31: 4,7202025-11-30: 4,7702025-12-31: 4,7552026-01-31: 4,9452026-02-28: 5,1202026-03-31: 5,1602026-04-30: 5,0102026-05-31: 4,9502026-06-30: 4,9102026-07-31: 4,8202026-08-31: 4,900 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 3,690 to 9,850 · axis starts at 2,951

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

2.3%
2.32.32.42026-01-31: 2.32026-02-28: 2.42026-03-31: 2.42026-04-30: 2.42026-05-31: 2.32026-06-30: 2.32026-07-31: 2.32026-08-31: 2.3 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.3 to 2.4 · axis starts at 2.3

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.

25.3%
8.021.535.12020-03-31: 14.62020-06-30: 15.82020-09-30: 14.72020-12-31: 10.62021-03-31: 13.22021-06-30: 14.72021-09-30: 21.42021-12-31: 22.42022-03-31: 22.32022-06-30: 21.42022-09-30: 22.92022-12-31: 21.92023-03-31: 22.22023-06-30: 24.12023-09-30: 19.42023-12-31: 22.12024-03-31: 20.72024-06-30: 22.52024-09-30: 27.02024-12-31: 26.72025-03-31: 31.62025-06-30: 32.42025-09-30: 27.52025-12-31: 31.92026-03-31: 25.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 10.6 to 32.4 · axis starts at 8.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.4, basis not documented by the producer

15.7%
6.415.123.72020-03-31: 19.62020-06-30: 22.12020-09-30: 21.52020-12-31: 20.82021-03-31: 21.22021-06-30: 18.82021-09-30: 15.52021-12-31: 12.22022-03-31: 14.62022-06-30: 18.52022-09-30: 17.82022-12-31: 17.02023-03-31: 14.42023-06-30: 10.82023-09-30: 11.72023-12-31: 12.52024-03-31: 14.22024-06-30: 15.72024-09-30: 18.02024-12-31: 16.82025-03-31: 15.52025-06-30: 15.22025-09-30: 8.12025-12-31: 9.42026-03-31: 15.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 8.1 to 22.1 · axis starts at 6.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.1, basis not documented by the producer

24.1%
16.727.237.72020-03-31: 26.72020-06-30: 20.12020-09-30: 18.72020-12-31: 21.32021-03-31: 21.72021-06-30: 22.32021-09-30: 19.52021-12-31: 23.52022-03-31: 25.92022-06-30: 26.32022-09-30: 31.42022-12-31: 29.22023-03-31: 28.22023-06-30: 23.22023-09-30: 27.12023-12-31: 27.52024-03-31: 30.12024-06-30: 35.72024-09-30: 24.12024-12-31: 19.62025-03-31: 19.22025-06-30: 21.82025-09-30: 24.52025-12-31: 26.12026-03-31: 24.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18.7 to 35.7 · axis starts at 16.7

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

19.5%
14.719.624.62020-03-31: 19.82020-06-30: 17.02020-09-30: 16.12020-12-31: 18.12021-03-31: 18.52021-06-30: 21.12021-09-30: 22.82021-12-31: 22.42022-03-31: 20.62022-06-30: 21.22022-09-30: 18.42022-12-31: 19.62023-03-31: 22.02023-06-30: 22.52023-09-30: 23.62023-12-31: 21.52024-03-31: 17.22024-06-30: 15.72024-09-30: 20.42024-12-31: 22.52025-03-31: 23.32025-06-30: 18.42025-09-30: 15.82025-12-31: 18.52026-03-31: 19.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.7 to 23.6 · axis starts at 14.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.7, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 1
£27,403
9,61219k29k1997-12-31: 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: 18k2012-12-31: 18k2013-12-31: 19k2014-12-31: 19k2015-12-31: 20k2016-12-31: 20k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 22k2020-12-31: 22k2021-12-31: 23k2022-12-31: 24k2023-12-31: 26k2024-12-31: 27k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 12k to 27k · axis starts at 9,612

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
17,945
15k17k18k2010-03-31: 16k2011-03-31: 16k2012-03-31: 16k2013-03-31: 16k2014-03-31: 16k2015-03-31: 17k2016-03-31: 17k2017-03-31: 17k2018-03-31: 17k2019-03-31: 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 · 16k to 18k · axis starts at 15k

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

13,975
12k13k14k2010-03-31: 12k2011-03-31: 12k2012-03-31: 12k2013-03-31: 12k2014-03-31: 12k2015-03-31: 13k2016-03-31: 13k2017-03-31: 13k2018-03-31: 13k2019-03-31: 13k2020-03-31: 13k2021-03-31: 14k2022-03-31: 14k2023-03-31: 14k2024-03-31: 14k2025-03-31: 14k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 12k to 14k · axis starts at 12k

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

1,050
8549621,0712010-03-31: 8852011-03-31: 8752012-03-31: 9202013-03-31: 9552014-03-31: 9702015-03-31: 1,0402016-03-31: 1,0202017-03-31: 1,0402018-03-31: 1,0202019-03-31: 1,0102020-03-31: 9952021-03-31: 9552022-03-31: 9952023-03-31: 1,0252024-03-31: 1,0402025-03-31: 1,050 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 875 to 1,050 · axis starts at 854

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

60
48.257.566.82010-03-31: 552011-03-31: 502012-03-31: 552013-03-31: 652014-03-31: 552015-03-31: 552016-03-31: 602017-03-31: 652018-03-31: 652019-03-31: 652020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 552022-03-31: 602023-03-31: 552024-03-31: 502025-03-31: 60 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 50 to 65 · axis starts at 48.2

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

10
910112010-03-31: 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: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · unchanged at 10 · axis starts at 9

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

540
4265005742010-03-31: 4402011-03-31: 4402012-03-31: 4402013-03-31: 4752014-03-31: 5052015-03-31: 5152016-03-31: 5152017-03-31: 5252018-03-31: 5302019-03-31: 5402020-03-31: 5252021-03-31: 5352022-03-31: 5552023-03-31: 5602024-03-31: 5552025-03-31: 540 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 440 to 560 · axis starts at 426

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

15
14.417.520.62010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 15 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

2,145
2,1062,2302,3542010-03-31: 2,1652011-03-31: 2,1802012-03-31: 2,2402013-03-31: 2,1302014-03-31: 2,2352015-03-31: 2,3302016-03-31: 2,2102017-03-31: 2,2052018-03-31: 2,2452019-03-31: 2,2302020-03-31: 2,2552021-03-31: 2,2302022-03-31: 2,2852023-03-31: 2,2652024-03-31: 2,1902025-03-31: 2,145 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,130 to 2,330 · axis starts at 2,106

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

145
1311521742010-03-31: 1452011-03-31: 1352012-03-31: 1352013-03-31: 1402014-03-31: 1352015-03-31: 1452016-03-31: 1452017-03-31: 1552018-03-31: 1452019-03-31: 1602020-03-31: 1702021-03-31: 1702022-03-31: 1652023-03-31: 1602024-03-31: 1502025-03-31: 145 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 135 to 170 · axis starts at 131

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

15
3.81016.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 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: 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

20,515
18k19k21k2010-03-31: 18k2011-03-31: 18k2012-03-31: 18k2013-03-31: 18k2014-03-31: 19k2015-03-31: 19k2016-03-31: 20k2017-03-31: 20k2018-03-31: 20k2019-03-31: 20k2020-03-31: 20k2021-03-31: 20k2022-03-31: 21k2023-03-31: 20k2024-03-31: 21k2025-03-31: 21k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 18k to 21k · axis starts at 18k

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

9,981
3,4737,07611k1998-12-31: 4,1701999-12-31: 4,4592000-12-31: 4,7642001-12-31: 4,7662002-12-31: 4,8922003-12-31: 5,0322004-12-31: 5,2182005-12-31: 5,5182006-12-31: 5,7242007-12-31: 5,8412008-12-31: 6,2942009-12-31: 6,0262010-12-31: 6,1892011-12-31: 6,2562012-12-31: 6,4642013-12-31: 6,5772014-12-31: 6,9092015-12-31: 6,9682016-12-31: 7,1072017-12-31: 7,4292018-12-31: 7,9812019-12-31: 8,2322020-12-31: 7,9102021-12-31: 8,6792022-12-31: 9,5372023-12-31: 9,981 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 4,170 to 9,981 · axis starts at 3,473

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Dorset

Dorset