The Datum Report

Local area

East Lothian and Midlothian

What we think is happening

Pay in East Lothian and Midlothian has been growing.

improving · established confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in East Lothian and Midlothian has been weakening.

strong confidence · 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 student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 24.5% +5.2 in the top 5% of 171
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 24.7% -3.6 in the bottom 9% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for East Lothian and Midlothian. 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
9.8%
6.99.311.72020-03-31: 8.52020-06-30: 8.72020-09-30: 8.42020-12-31: 8.72021-03-31: 10.12021-06-30: 9.92021-09-30: 9.52021-12-31: 10.12022-03-31: 9.12022-06-30: 8.62022-09-30: 8.32022-12-31: 7.42023-03-31: 8.92023-06-30: 9.12023-09-30: 10.12023-12-31: 11.02024-03-31: 10.22024-06-30: 11.22024-09-30: 10.72024-12-31: 10.72025-03-31: 10.62025-06-30: 10.52025-09-30: 10.12025-12-31: 10.22026-03-31: 9.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.4 to 11.2 · axis starts at 6.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.1, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
79.1%
74.478.783.02020-03-31: 80.72020-06-30: 79.42020-09-30: 78.62020-12-31: 76.12021-03-31: 75.22021-06-30: 77.32021-09-30: 77.72021-12-31: 80.12022-03-31: 82.02022-06-30: 79.72022-09-30: 78.92022-12-31: 77.72023-03-31: 77.22023-06-30: 78.42023-09-30: 81.82023-12-31: 81.82024-03-31: 79.92024-06-30: 80.52024-09-30: 79.22024-12-31: 80.22025-03-31: 81.92025-06-30: 82.22025-09-30: 80.32025-12-31: 78.82026-03-31: 79.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 75.2 to 82.2 · axis starts at 74.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.2, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.4%
1.23.14.92020-03-31: 1.92020-06-30: 1.52020-09-30: 2.42020-12-31: 3.12021-03-31: 3.82021-06-30: 4.62021-09-30: 3.52021-12-31: 3.02022-06-30: 1.82022-09-30: 1.52022-12-31: 1.62023-03-31: 1.82023-09-30: 3.52024-06-30: 3.82024-09-30: 3.42024-12-31: 4.22025-03-31: 3.92025-09-30: 3.12025-12-31: 2.82026-03-31: 3.4 2020-03 2026-03
20 monthly readings · 1.5 to 4.6 · axis starts at 1.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
5 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

18.2%
13.918.322.62020-03-31: 17.72020-06-30: 19.42020-09-30: 19.42020-12-31: 21.52021-03-31: 21.82021-06-30: 19.12021-09-30: 19.52021-12-31: 17.32022-03-31: 16.22022-06-30: 18.92022-09-30: 19.82022-12-31: 21.12023-03-31: 21.42023-06-30: 19.82023-09-30: 15.32023-12-31: 15.62024-03-31: 17.12024-06-30: 16.42024-09-30: 18.02024-12-31: 16.32025-03-31: 14.72025-06-30: 15.92025-09-30: 17.32025-12-31: 18.92026-03-31: 18.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.7 to 21.8 · axis starts at 13.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.0, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
3,365
2,2034,7707,3372020-01-31: 3,1602020-02-29: 3,2352020-03-31: 3,2152020-04-30: 5,9202020-05-31: 6,8402020-06-30: 6,4902020-07-31: 6,6802020-08-31: 6,7802020-09-30: 6,4502020-10-31: 6,0652020-11-30: 6,2052020-12-31: 6,1252021-01-31: 6,2052021-02-28: 6,5502021-03-31: 6,5752021-04-30: 6,4052021-05-31: 5,8702021-06-30: 5,2752021-07-31: 5,1552021-08-31: 4,9252021-09-30: 4,4702021-10-31: 4,2002021-11-30: 4,0302021-12-31: 3,8652022-01-31: 3,8052022-02-28: 3,7152022-03-31: 3,4052022-04-30: 3,1902022-05-31: 3,0152022-06-30: 2,9002022-07-31: 2,8102022-08-31: 2,8652022-09-30: 2,7602022-10-31: 2,7002022-11-30: 2,7402022-12-31: 2,7802023-01-31: 2,8002023-02-28: 2,8602023-03-31: 2,9452023-04-30: 3,0102023-05-31: 2,8852023-06-30: 2,8902023-07-31: 2,9602023-08-31: 2,8752023-09-30: 2,8452023-10-31: 2,8202023-11-30: 2,9002023-12-31: 2,8652024-01-31: 2,8152024-02-29: 2,9352024-03-31: 2,9352024-04-30: 2,8752024-05-31: 2,8802024-06-30: 2,9702024-07-31: 3,0652024-08-31: 3,1302024-09-30: 3,0152024-10-31: 2,9802024-11-30: 2,9002024-12-31: 2,8452025-01-31: 2,9502025-02-28: 3,0852025-03-31: 3,0052025-04-30: 2,9002025-05-31: 2,8602025-06-30: 2,8802025-07-31: 2,8902025-08-31: 2,9202025-09-30: 2,8252025-10-31: 2,8402025-11-30: 2,8602025-12-31: 2,8252026-01-31: 2,9552026-02-28: 3,0902026-03-31: 3,1902026-04-30: 3,1552026-05-31: 3,1802026-06-30: 3,2402026-07-31: 3,3002026-08-31: 3,365 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 2,700 to 6,840 · axis starts at 2,203

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

2.6%
2.22.42.62026-01-31: 2.22026-02-28: 2.32026-03-31: 2.42026-04-30: 2.42026-05-31: 2.42026-06-30: 2.52026-07-31: 2.52026-08-31: 2.6 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.2 to 2.6 · 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.

24.7%
22.334.947.42020-03-31: 29.02020-06-30: 32.62020-09-30: 36.62020-12-31: 36.22021-03-31: 31.92021-06-30: 27.22021-09-30: 28.02021-12-31: 30.22022-03-31: 30.32022-06-30: 30.72022-09-30: 30.72022-12-31: 33.22023-03-31: 31.72023-06-30: 31.52023-09-30: 32.42023-12-31: 33.32024-03-31: 44.82024-06-30: 452024-09-30: 43.22024-12-31: 32.72025-03-31: 28.62025-06-30: 25.92025-09-30: 27.42025-12-31: 28.32026-03-31: 24.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 24.7 to 45 · axis starts at 22.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.9, basis not documented by the producer

16.7%
7.415.924.52020-03-31: 17.82020-06-30: 13.72020-09-30: 11.62020-12-31: 13.22021-03-31: 14.12021-06-30: 15.52021-09-30: 15.52021-12-31: 13.72022-03-31: 14.62022-06-30: 16.52022-09-30: 17.82022-12-31: 18.82023-03-31: 20.52023-06-30: 22.82023-09-30: 21.12023-12-31: 19.82024-03-31: 11.02024-09-30: 9.02025-03-31: 11.52025-06-30: 9.12025-09-30: 15.32025-12-31: 16.52026-03-31: 16.7 2020-03 2026-03
23 monthly readings · 9.0 to 22.8 · axis starts at 7.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.6, basis not documented by the producer
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

22.8%
13.624.635.62020-03-31: 24.82020-06-30: 19.72020-09-30: 20.32020-12-31: 16.02021-03-31: 16.02021-06-30: 19.82021-09-30: 19.72021-12-31: 22.62022-03-31: 22.22022-06-30: 20.32022-09-30: 19.92022-12-31: 19.52023-03-31: 19.72023-06-30: 19.92023-09-30: 18.42023-12-31: 17.72024-03-31: 17.12024-06-30: 172024-09-30: 15.82024-12-31: 27.22025-03-31: 29.72025-06-30: 33.52025-09-30: 31.62025-12-31: 232026-03-31: 22.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.8 to 33.5 · axis starts at 13.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.6, basis not documented by the producer

24.5%
11.620.429.12020-03-31: 19.22020-06-30: 24.92020-09-30: 22.82020-12-31: 25.32021-03-31: 27.42021-06-30: 24.12021-09-30: 21.32021-12-31: 20.32022-03-31: 14.62022-06-30: 16.52022-09-30: 15.82024-03-31: 13.32024-06-30: 162024-09-30: 16.72024-12-31: 17.32025-03-31: 16.52025-06-30: 20.32025-09-30: 16.72025-12-31: 19.32026-03-31: 24.5 2020-03 2026-03
20 monthly readings · 13.3 to 27.4 · axis starts at 11.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.9, basis not documented by the producer
5 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£26,312
7,88218k28k1997-12-31: 9,8571998-12-31: 10k1999-12-31: 11k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 12k2003-12-31: 13k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 14k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 18k2014-12-31: 19k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 19k2017-12-31: 19k2018-12-31: 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 · 9,857 to 26k · axis starts at 7,882

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,709
1,7392,2762,8132020-01-31: 1,8682020-02-29: 1,8782020-03-31: 1,8872020-04-30: 1,8432020-05-31: 1,8522020-06-30: 1,8622020-07-31: 1,9032020-08-31: 1,9192020-09-30: 1,9372020-10-31: 1,9502020-11-30: 1,9612020-12-31: 1,9872021-01-31: 1,9682021-02-28: 1,9972021-03-31: 1,9892021-04-30: 2,0202021-05-31: 2,0302021-06-30: 2,0172021-07-31: 2,0222021-08-31: 2,0422021-09-30: 2,0282021-10-31: 2,0492021-11-30: 2,0602021-12-31: 2,1122022-01-31: 2,0932022-02-28: 2,1092022-03-31: 2,1042022-04-30: 2,1142022-05-31: 2,1202022-06-30: 2,1412022-07-31: 2,1482022-08-31: 2,1342022-09-30: 2,1472022-10-31: 2,1822022-11-30: 2,2752022-12-31: 2,2642023-01-31: 2,2572023-02-28: 2,3082023-03-31: 2,2912023-04-30: 2,3332023-05-31: 2,3122023-06-30: 2,3242023-07-31: 2,3132023-08-31: 2,3222023-09-30: 2,3302023-10-31: 2,3462023-11-30: 2,3942023-12-31: 2,4572024-01-31: 2,3812024-02-29: 2,3912024-03-31: 2,4272024-04-30: 2,4432024-05-31: 2,4582024-06-30: 2,4552024-07-31: 2,4552024-08-31: 2,4562024-09-30: 2,4532024-10-31: 2,4732024-11-30: 2,5802024-12-31: 2,5522025-01-31: 2,5162025-02-28: 2,5392025-03-31: 2,5582025-04-30: 2,5612025-05-31: 2,5632025-06-30: 2,5752025-07-31: 2,5912025-08-31: 2,6262025-09-30: 2,6042025-10-31: 2,6222025-11-30: 2,6132025-12-31: 2,6632026-01-31: 2,6252026-02-28: 2,6542026-03-31: 2,6702026-04-30: 2,7062026-05-31: 2,7062026-06-30: 2,7042026-07-31: 2,709 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,843 to 2,709 · axis starts at 1,739

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.

95,168
88k93k97k2020-01-31: 91k2020-02-29: 91k2020-03-31: 91k2020-04-30: 91k2020-05-31: 90k2020-06-30: 90k2020-07-31: 91k2020-08-31: 90k2020-09-30: 90k2020-10-31: 90k2020-11-30: 90k2020-12-31: 89k2021-01-31: 89k2021-02-28: 89k2021-03-31: 90k2021-04-30: 90k2021-05-31: 91k2021-06-30: 92k2021-07-31: 92k2021-08-31: 92k2021-09-30: 93k2021-10-31: 93k2021-11-30: 93k2021-12-31: 93k2022-01-31: 93k2022-02-28: 93k2022-03-31: 94k2022-04-30: 94k2022-05-31: 94k2022-06-30: 95k2022-07-31: 95k2022-08-31: 95k2022-09-30: 95k2022-10-31: 95k2022-11-30: 95k2022-12-31: 95k2023-01-31: 95k2023-02-28: 95k2023-03-31: 95k2023-04-30: 96k2023-05-31: 96k2023-06-30: 96k2023-07-31: 96k2023-08-31: 96k2023-09-30: 96k2023-10-31: 96k2023-11-30: 97k2023-12-31: 96k2024-01-31: 96k2024-02-29: 96k2024-03-31: 96k2024-04-30: 95k2024-05-31: 95k2024-06-30: 96k2024-07-31: 96k2024-08-31: 96k2024-09-30: 95k2024-10-31: 95k2024-11-30: 96k2024-12-31: 95k2025-01-31: 94k2025-02-28: 94k2025-03-31: 94k2025-04-30: 95k2025-05-31: 95k2025-06-30: 95k2025-07-31: 95k2025-08-31: 95k2025-09-30: 95k2025-10-31: 95k2025-11-30: 95k2025-12-31: 95k2026-01-31: 94k2026-02-28: 94k2026-03-31: 94k2026-04-30: 94k2026-05-31: 95k2026-06-30: 95k2026-07-31: 95k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 89k to 97k · axis starts at 88k

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
5,765
4,2085,0705,9322010-03-31: 4,3752011-03-31: 4,3802012-03-31: 4,5552013-03-31: 4,6502014-03-31: 4,7902015-03-31: 5,1452016-03-31: 5,3352017-03-31: 5,4952018-03-31: 5,5452019-03-31: 5,6602020-03-31: 5,7402021-03-31: 5,6602022-03-31: 5,6652023-03-31: 5,6252024-03-31: 5,7302025-03-31: 5,765 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,375 to 5,765 · axis starts at 4,208

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

4,305
2,9673,7084,4482010-03-31: 3,1102011-03-31: 3,1602012-03-31: 3,2752013-03-31: 3,3602014-03-31: 3,4702015-03-31: 3,7552016-03-31: 3,9852017-03-31: 4,1152018-03-31: 4,1552019-03-31: 4,2302020-03-31: 4,3052021-03-31: 4,2302022-03-31: 4,1752023-03-31: 4,1452024-03-31: 4,2702025-03-31: 4,305 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,110 to 4,305 · axis starts at 2,967

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

405
3153684202010-03-31: 3502011-03-31: 3302012-03-31: 3252013-03-31: 3502014-03-31: 3652015-03-31: 3802016-03-31: 3852017-03-31: 3652018-03-31: 3752019-03-31: 3702020-03-31: 3802021-03-31: 3752022-03-31: 3852023-03-31: 3952024-03-31: 4102025-03-31: 405 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 325 to 410 · axis starts at 315

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

25
8.217.526.82010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 25 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

5
05.611.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 02012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 02015-03-31: 02016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 10

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

205
1451952452010-03-31: 1552011-03-31: 1652012-03-31: 1752013-03-31: 1902014-03-31: 1952015-03-31: 1902016-03-31: 2002017-03-31: 2102018-03-31: 2152019-03-31: 2102020-03-31: 2152021-03-31: 2252022-03-31: 2352023-03-31: 2202024-03-31: 2102025-03-31: 205 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 155 to 235 · axis starts at 145

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

5
05.611.22010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 02017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 52024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 10

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

750
6467207942010-03-31: 6902011-03-31: 6602012-03-31: 7202013-03-31: 6752014-03-31: 7002015-03-31: 7452016-03-31: 6902017-03-31: 7202018-03-31: 7202019-03-31: 7552020-03-31: 7352021-03-31: 7302022-03-31: 7802023-03-31: 7702024-03-31: 7402025-03-31: 750 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 660 to 780 · axis starts at 646

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

60
3752.5682010-03-31: 402011-03-31: 402012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 452014-03-31: 402015-03-31: 452016-03-31: 402017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 552019-03-31: 652020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 602022-03-31: 552023-03-31: 652024-03-31: 652025-03-31: 60 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 40 to 65 · axis starts at 37

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

0
02.85.62010-03-31: 02011-03-31: 02012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 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: 02025-03-31: 0 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 5

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

6,910
5,2026,1487,0932010-03-31: 5,3902011-03-31: 5,3852012-03-31: 5,5652013-03-31: 5,6752014-03-31: 5,8052015-03-31: 6,1952016-03-31: 6,3852017-03-31: 6,5602018-03-31: 6,6452019-03-31: 6,7402020-03-31: 6,8052021-03-31: 6,7402022-03-31: 6,7852023-03-31: 6,7602024-03-31: 6,8602025-03-31: 6,910 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5,385 to 6,910 · axis starts at 5,202

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

4,356
1,0632,8864,7091998-12-31: 1,4161999-12-31: 1,4482000-12-31: 1,5262001-12-31: 1,5772002-12-31: 1,6582003-12-31: 1,7642004-12-31: 1,8692005-12-31: 1,9242006-12-31: 2,0382007-12-31: 2,1212008-12-31: 2,1852009-12-31: 2,1332010-12-31: 2,1632011-12-31: 2,2452012-12-31: 2,3322013-12-31: 2,5582014-12-31: 2,7212015-12-31: 2,8482016-12-31: 2,9672017-12-31: 3,1372018-12-31: 3,3172019-12-31: 3,4652020-12-31: 3,2922021-12-31: 3,5582022-12-31: 3,9372023-12-31: 4,356 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 1,416 to 4,356 · axis starts at 1,063

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in East Lothian and Midlothian

East Lothian · Midlothian