The Datum Report

Local area

Essex Thames Gateway

What we think is happening

The job market in Essex Thames Gateway has been going both ways.

mixed · tentative 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 retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 16.1% -11 in the bottom 1% of 165
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 18.5% +3.2 in the top 1% of 171

Moving with the rest of the country

Shown separately because these say something about the country rather than about Essex Thames Gateway.

By subject

Every figure published for Essex Thames Gateway. 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%
6.910.714.52020-03-31: 13.52020-06-30: 12.02020-09-30: 11.82020-12-31: 10.72021-03-31: 9.32021-06-30: 10.82021-09-30: 10.42021-12-31: 9.12022-03-31: 9.62022-06-30: 8.82022-09-30: 10.02022-12-31: 11.42023-03-31: 12.52023-06-30: 11.52023-09-30: 10.82023-12-31: 10.42024-03-31: 10.32024-06-30: 12.02024-09-30: 9.82024-12-31: 9.62025-03-31: 9.22025-06-30: 7.62025-09-30: 11.62025-12-31: 13.82026-03-31: 13.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.6 to 13.8 · axis starts at 6.9

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

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
79.2%
75.080.285.52020-03-31: 79.32020-06-30: 79.02020-09-30: 78.02020-12-31: 77.02021-03-31: 77.82021-06-30: 79.02021-09-30: 78.62021-12-31: 79.92022-03-31: 80.82022-06-30: 81.72022-09-30: 84.52022-12-31: 83.72023-03-31: 83.52023-06-30: 81.12023-09-30: 79.42023-12-31: 77.82024-03-31: 76.02024-06-30: 78.92024-09-30: 78.02024-12-31: 80.22025-03-31: 80.92025-06-30: 79.42025-09-30: 81.02025-12-31: 81.62026-03-31: 79.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 76.0 to 84.5 · axis starts at 75.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.7, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
2.8%
2.73.23.72025-12-31: 3.62026-03-31: 2.8 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 2.8 to 3.6 · axis starts at 2.7

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

18.5%
11.916.521.12020-03-31: 18.62020-06-30: 17.92020-09-30: 18.52020-12-31: 20.22021-03-31: 19.32021-06-30: 18.32021-09-30: 19.52021-12-31: 17.12022-03-31: 15.52022-06-30: 15.32022-09-30: 12.72022-12-31: 14.42023-03-31: 15.02023-06-30: 14.92023-09-30: 15.82023-12-31: 17.12024-03-31: 18.12024-06-30: 17.62024-09-30: 19.02024-12-31: 17.62025-03-31: 16.02025-06-30: 17.92025-09-30: 16.22025-12-31: 15.32026-03-31: 18.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 12.7 to 20.2 · axis starts at 11.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.5, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
7,220
4,0269,62815k2020-01-31: 5,1102020-02-29: 5,3352020-03-31: 5,5202020-04-30: 10k2020-05-31: 14k2020-06-30: 13k2020-07-31: 13k2020-08-31: 14k2020-09-30: 13k2020-10-31: 13k2020-11-30: 13k2020-12-31: 13k2021-01-31: 12k2021-02-28: 13k2021-03-31: 13k2021-04-30: 13k2021-05-31: 12k2021-06-30: 11k2021-07-31: 10k2021-08-31: 9,6202021-09-30: 8,8952021-10-31: 8,5002021-11-30: 8,1452021-12-31: 7,8902022-01-31: 7,5552022-02-28: 7,6302022-03-31: 7,2252022-04-30: 6,8652022-05-31: 6,6452022-06-30: 6,5252022-07-31: 6,4252022-08-31: 6,3252022-09-30: 6,2302022-10-31: 6,2052022-11-30: 6,2202022-12-31: 6,1902023-01-31: 6,1252023-02-28: 6,1952023-03-31: 6,2152023-04-30: 6,4302023-05-31: 6,2552023-06-30: 6,3802023-07-31: 6,3352023-08-31: 6,2702023-09-30: 6,2252023-10-31: 6,2002023-11-30: 6,2952023-12-31: 6,3352024-01-31: 6,3552024-02-29: 6,5652024-03-31: 6,6302024-04-30: 6,5752024-05-31: 6,5752024-06-30: 6,7352024-07-31: 7,3152024-08-31: 7,2102024-09-30: 7,2602024-10-31: 7,2202024-11-30: 7,0702024-12-31: 7,1102025-01-31: 7,1952025-02-28: 7,4002025-03-31: 7,2652025-04-30: 7,0852025-05-31: 7,0702025-06-30: 7,1702025-07-31: 7,0002025-08-31: 6,9602025-09-30: 6,9152025-10-31: 6,8652025-11-30: 6,8502025-12-31: 6,8002026-01-31: 6,8202026-02-28: 7,0252026-03-31: 7,0802026-04-30: 7,0152026-05-31: 7,0102026-06-30: 7,0202026-07-31: 7,0402026-08-31: 7,220 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 5,110 to 14k · axis starts at 4,026

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

3.2%
3.03.13.22026-01-31: 32026-02-28: 3.12026-03-31: 3.12026-04-30: 3.12026-05-31: 3.12026-06-30: 3.12026-07-31: 3.12026-08-31: 3.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3 to 3.2 · axis starts at 3.0

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.

42.7%
28.336.344.22025-06-30: 37.62025-09-30: 29.92025-12-31: 36.32026-03-31: 42.7 2025-06 2026-03
4 monthly readings · 29.9 to 42.7 · axis starts at 28.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±12.7, basis not documented by the producer
21 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

13.5%
10.820.430.02020-03-31: 28.12020-06-30: 20.92020-09-30: 21.62020-12-31: 20.82025-12-31: 12.72026-03-31: 13.5 2020-03 2026-03
6 monthly readings · 12.7 to 28.1 · axis starts at 10.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.8, basis not documented by the producer
19 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

16.1%
13.324.535.72021-03-31: 16.42021-06-30: 19.62021-09-30: 18.82022-06-30: 22.82022-09-30: 29.92022-12-31: 32.42023-03-31: 33.52024-09-30: 15.52025-06-30: 21.12025-09-30: 20.82025-12-31: 27.22026-03-31: 16.1 2021-03 2026-03
12 monthly readings · 15.5 to 33.5 · axis starts at 13.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.5, basis not documented by the producer
13 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

13.2%
10.823.135.42021-09-30: 33.02021-12-31: 322026-03-31: 13.2 2021-09 2026-03
3 monthly readings · 13.2 to 33.0 · axis starts at 10.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
22 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£25,924
9,47319k28k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 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: 17k2013-12-31: 17k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 19k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 21k2020-12-31: 21k2021-12-31: 22k2022-12-31: 23k2023-12-31: 25k2024-12-31: 26k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 26k · axis starts at 9,473

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,790
1,8092,3542,8982020-01-31: 1,9502020-02-29: 1,9622020-03-31: 1,9662020-04-30: 1,9142020-05-31: 1,9332020-06-30: 1,9522020-07-31: 1,9772020-08-31: 1,9852020-09-30: 2,0102020-10-31: 2,0332020-11-30: 2,0432020-12-31: 2,0712021-01-31: 2,0342021-02-28: 2,0432021-03-31: 2,0822021-04-30: 2,1022021-05-31: 2,0982021-06-30: 2,1102021-07-31: 2,1032021-08-31: 2,1072021-09-30: 2,1232021-10-31: 2,1222021-11-30: 2,1392021-12-31: 2,1892022-01-31: 2,1482022-02-28: 2,1682022-03-31: 2,1942022-04-30: 2,2012022-05-31: 2,2122022-06-30: 2,2312022-07-31: 2,2322022-08-31: 2,2542022-09-30: 2,3032022-10-31: 2,2882022-11-30: 2,3402022-12-31: 2,3742023-01-31: 2,3162023-02-28: 2,3252023-03-31: 2,3582023-04-30: 2,3682023-05-31: 2,4092023-06-30: 2,4722023-07-31: 2,4072023-08-31: 2,4072023-09-30: 2,4222023-10-31: 2,4292023-11-30: 2,4722023-12-31: 2,5152024-01-31: 2,4542024-02-29: 2,4642024-03-31: 2,5002024-04-30: 2,5182024-05-31: 2,5372024-06-30: 2,5372024-07-31: 2,5252024-08-31: 2,5372024-09-30: 2,5422024-10-31: 2,6182024-11-30: 2,6212024-12-31: 2,6212025-01-31: 2,5822025-02-28: 2,5942025-03-31: 2,6232025-04-30: 2,6512025-05-31: 2,6632025-06-30: 2,6632025-07-31: 2,6622025-08-31: 2,6962025-09-30: 2,6942025-10-31: 2,7012025-11-30: 2,7062025-12-31: 2,7442026-01-31: 2,7062026-02-28: 2,7212026-03-31: 2,7562026-04-30: 2,7832026-05-31: 2,7912026-06-30: 2,7932026-07-31: 2,790 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,914 to 2,793 · axis starts at 1,809

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.

164,153
152k159k166k2020-01-31: 158k2020-02-29: 158k2020-03-31: 158k2020-04-30: 156k2020-05-31: 156k2020-06-30: 156k2020-07-31: 156k2020-08-31: 155k2020-09-30: 155k2020-10-31: 155k2020-11-30: 155k2020-12-31: 155k2021-01-31: 154k2021-02-28: 154k2021-03-31: 154k2021-04-30: 155k2021-05-31: 156k2021-06-30: 156k2021-07-31: 157k2021-08-31: 157k2021-09-30: 158k2021-10-31: 158k2021-11-30: 159k2021-12-31: 159k2022-01-31: 158k2022-02-28: 158k2022-03-31: 159k2022-04-30: 159k2022-05-31: 159k2022-06-30: 160k2022-07-31: 160k2022-08-31: 160k2022-09-30: 161k2022-10-31: 161k2022-11-30: 162k2022-12-31: 162k2023-01-31: 161k2023-02-28: 161k2023-03-31: 161k2023-04-30: 162k2023-05-31: 162k2023-06-30: 163k2023-07-31: 163k2023-08-31: 163k2023-09-30: 163k2023-10-31: 163k2023-11-30: 164k2023-12-31: 164k2024-01-31: 163k2024-02-29: 162k2024-03-31: 163k2024-04-30: 164k2024-05-31: 164k2024-06-30: 164k2024-07-31: 165k2024-08-31: 164k2024-09-30: 164k2024-10-31: 164k2024-11-30: 164k2024-12-31: 164k2025-01-31: 163k2025-02-28: 163k2025-03-31: 163k2025-04-30: 164k2025-05-31: 164k2025-06-30: 164k2025-07-31: 164k2025-08-31: 164k2025-09-30: 164k2025-10-31: 164k2025-11-30: 164k2025-12-31: 164k2026-01-31: 163k2026-02-28: 163k2026-03-31: 164k2026-04-30: 164k2026-05-31: 164k2026-06-30: 164k2026-07-31: 164k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 154k 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
14,635
10k13k15k2010-03-31: 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: 15k2020-03-31: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2022-03-31: 14k2023-03-31: 15k2024-03-31: 15k2025-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 11k to 15k · axis starts at 10k

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

11,545
8,05710k12k2010-03-31: 8,5052011-03-31: 8,4602012-03-31: 8,9252013-03-31: 8,8752014-03-31: 9,4652015-03-31: 10k2016-03-31: 11k2017-03-31: 11k2018-03-31: 11k2019-03-31: 12k2020-03-31: 12k2021-03-31: 12k2022-03-31: 11k2023-03-31: 11k2024-03-31: 11k2025-03-31: 12k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 8,460 to 12k · axis starts at 8,057

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

840
6017508992010-03-31: 6302011-03-31: 6302012-03-31: 6552013-03-31: 6852014-03-31: 7452015-03-31: 7952016-03-31: 7802017-03-31: 7802018-03-31: 7802019-03-31: 8152020-03-31: 8102021-03-31: 8102022-03-31: 8402023-03-31: 8702024-03-31: 8352025-03-31: 840 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 630 to 870 · axis starts at 601

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

65
29.657.585.42010-03-31: 402011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 502015-03-31: 552016-03-31: 652017-03-31: 602018-03-31: 652019-03-31: 602020-03-31: 652021-03-31: 802022-03-31: 802023-03-31: 802024-03-31: 702025-03-31: 65 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 35 to 80 · axis starts at 29.6

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

10
4.47.510.62010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 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: 52025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5 to 10 · axis starts at 4.4

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

405
3473884282010-03-31: 3602011-03-31: 3552012-03-31: 3852013-03-31: 3952014-03-31: 4052015-03-31: 4152016-03-31: 4202017-03-31: 4102018-03-31: 4202019-03-31: 4202020-03-31: 4152021-03-31: 4002022-03-31: 4102023-03-31: 4152024-03-31: 4052025-03-31: 405 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 355 to 420 · axis starts at 347

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

15
8.217.526.82010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 15 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

1,600
1,2781,5201,7622010-03-31: 1,3902011-03-31: 1,3252012-03-31: 1,3602013-03-31: 1,3452014-03-31: 1,4002015-03-31: 1,5052016-03-31: 1,4502017-03-31: 1,4302018-03-31: 1,4752019-03-31: 1,5252020-03-31: 1,6452021-03-31: 1,4902022-03-31: 1,5802023-03-31: 1,7152024-03-31: 1,6452025-03-31: 1,600 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,325 to 1,715 · axis starts at 1,278

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

140
891201512010-03-31: 952011-03-31: 1052012-03-31: 1202013-03-31: 1302014-03-31: 1152015-03-31: 1152016-03-31: 1202017-03-31: 1352018-03-31: 1352019-03-31: 1452020-03-31: 1352021-03-31: 1302022-03-31: 1302023-03-31: 1252024-03-31: 1302025-03-31: 140 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 95 to 145 · axis starts at 89

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

15
08.416.82010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 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: 152023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 15 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 15

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

16,350
12k15k17k2010-03-31: 13k2011-03-31: 13k2012-03-31: 13k2013-03-31: 13k2014-03-31: 14k2015-03-31: 15k2016-03-31: 15k2017-03-31: 16k2018-03-31: 16k2019-03-31: 16k2020-03-31: 17k2021-03-31: 16k2022-03-31: 16k2023-03-31: 16k2024-03-31: 16k2025-03-31: 16k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 13k to 17k · axis starts at 12k

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

10,690
3,2537,37011k1998-12-31: 4,0501999-12-31: 4,0812000-12-31: 4,3872001-12-31: 4,6332002-12-31: 4,7392003-12-31: 5,1432004-12-31: 5,1652005-12-31: 5,3572006-12-31: 5,5462007-12-31: 5,7372008-12-31: 6,0612009-12-31: 5,6792010-12-31: 5,9772011-12-31: 6,0092012-12-31: 6,3322013-12-31: 6,7122014-12-31: 6,9872015-12-31: 6,9942016-12-31: 7,3282017-12-31: 7,6602018-12-31: 7,9592019-12-31: 8,3952020-12-31: 8,1262021-12-31: 8,9062022-12-31: 10k2023-12-31: 11k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 4,050 to 11k · axis starts at 3,253

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Essex Thames Gateway

Basildon · Castle Point · Rochford