The Datum Report

Local area

Greater Manchester North West

What we think is happening

The job market in Greater Manchester North West has been going both ways.

mixed · tentative confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

By subject

Every figure published for Greater Manchester North West. 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
6.9%
5.08.612.32020-03-31: 10.62020-06-30: 11.62020-09-30: 10.82020-12-31: 11.12021-03-31: 10.52021-06-30: 10.02021-09-30: 9.42021-12-31: 8.62022-03-31: 8.22022-06-30: 7.72022-09-30: 8.12022-12-31: 7.02023-03-31: 7.22023-06-30: 6.92023-09-30: 5.72023-12-31: 6.72024-03-31: 7.22024-06-30: 6.12024-09-30: 6.82024-12-31: 7.12025-03-31: 7.62025-06-30: 7.92025-09-30: 7.72025-12-31: 7.52026-03-31: 6.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.7 to 11.6 · axis starts at 5.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.6, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
70.9%
66.070.274.32020-03-31: 71.92020-06-30: 73.52020-09-30: 72.42020-12-31: 73.22021-03-31: 73.12021-06-30: 72.52021-09-30: 72.52021-12-31: 73.12022-03-31: 73.02022-06-30: 73.12022-09-30: 73.02022-12-31: 72.92023-03-31: 72.22023-06-30: 71.82023-09-30: 69.92023-12-31: 67.92024-03-31: 67.22024-06-30: 66.82024-09-30: 70.12024-12-31: 70.22025-03-31: 70.12025-06-30: 69.82025-09-30: 69.52025-12-31: 69.42026-03-31: 70.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 66.8 to 73.5 · axis starts at 66.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.9, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.7%
2.84.66.42020-03-31: 5.72020-06-30: 5.22020-09-30: 5.42020-12-31: 4.52021-03-31: 3.72021-06-30: 3.32021-09-30: 3.72021-12-31: 3.22022-03-31: 4.52022-06-30: 4.42022-09-30: 4.72022-12-31: 5.92023-03-31: 4.62023-06-30: 5.32023-09-30: 4.72023-12-31: 4.22024-03-31: 5.92024-06-30: 6.12024-09-30: 4.42024-12-31: 4.72025-03-31: 3.92025-06-30: 3.52025-09-30: 3.92025-12-31: 3.82026-03-31: 3.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 3.2 to 6.1 · axis starts at 2.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.4, basis not documented by the producer

26.4%
21.725.829.92020-03-31: 23.72020-06-30: 22.52020-09-30: 23.52020-12-31: 23.32021-03-31: 24.22021-06-30: 25.02021-09-30: 24.72021-12-31: 24.52022-03-31: 23.52022-06-30: 23.62022-09-30: 23.42022-12-31: 22.52023-03-31: 24.32023-06-30: 24.22023-09-30: 26.72023-12-31: 29.12024-03-31: 28.72024-06-30: 28.92024-09-30: 26.72024-12-31: 26.42025-03-31: 27.12025-06-30: 27.62025-09-30: 27.72025-12-31: 27.92026-03-31: 26.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 22.5 to 29.1 · axis starts at 21.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.9, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
17,820
14k23k31k2020-01-31: 15k2020-02-29: 16k2020-03-31: 17k2020-04-30: 26k2020-05-31: 30k2020-06-30: 29k2020-07-31: 29k2020-08-31: 30k2020-09-30: 29k2020-10-31: 28k2020-11-30: 29k2020-12-31: 28k2021-01-31: 28k2021-02-28: 29k2021-03-31: 28k2021-04-30: 28k2021-05-31: 27k2021-06-30: 25k2021-07-31: 25k2021-08-31: 24k2021-09-30: 23k2021-10-31: 22k2021-11-30: 21k2021-12-31: 20k2022-01-31: 20k2022-02-28: 20k2022-03-31: 20k2022-04-30: 19k2022-05-31: 18k2022-06-30: 18k2022-07-31: 18k2022-08-31: 18k2022-09-30: 18k2022-10-31: 17k2022-11-30: 18k2022-12-31: 18k2023-01-31: 18k2023-02-28: 18k2023-03-31: 18k2023-04-30: 19k2023-05-31: 18k2023-06-30: 18k2023-07-31: 18k2023-08-31: 17k2023-09-30: 17k2023-10-31: 17k2023-11-30: 17k2023-12-31: 17k2024-01-31: 18k2024-02-29: 18k2024-03-31: 19k2024-04-30: 18k2024-05-31: 19k2024-06-30: 19k2024-07-31: 20k2024-08-31: 20k2024-09-30: 20k2024-10-31: 19k2024-11-30: 19k2024-12-31: 18k2025-01-31: 18k2025-02-28: 19k2025-03-31: 18k2025-04-30: 18k2025-05-31: 18k2025-06-30: 18k2025-07-31: 18k2025-08-31: 18k2025-09-30: 17k2025-10-31: 17k2025-11-30: 17k2025-12-31: 17k2026-01-31: 17k2026-02-28: 17k2026-03-31: 18k2026-04-30: 18k2026-05-31: 18k2026-06-30: 18k2026-07-31: 17k2026-08-31: 18k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 15k to 30k · axis starts at 14k

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

4.4%
4.24.34.42026-01-31: 4.22026-02-28: 4.32026-03-31: 4.42026-04-30: 4.42026-05-31: 4.42026-06-30: 4.32026-07-31: 4.32026-08-31: 4.4 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 4.2 to 4.4 · axis starts at 4.2

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.

36.3%
20.830.840.82020-03-31: 29.92020-06-30: 29.12020-09-30: 32.82020-12-31: 29.22021-03-31: 25.52021-06-30: 25.72021-09-30: 22.72021-12-31: 25.62022-03-31: 30.42022-06-30: 31.22022-09-30: 32.22022-12-31: 31.12023-03-31: 33.12023-06-30: 30.82023-09-30: 30.92023-12-31: 32.12024-03-31: 32.12024-06-30: 38.92024-09-30: 38.82024-12-31: 36.12025-03-31: 32.72025-06-30: 30.52025-09-30: 29.22025-12-31: 36.12026-03-31: 36.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 22.7 to 38.9 · axis starts at 20.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.2, basis not documented by the producer

15.7%
14.719.724.62020-03-31: 21.62020-06-30: 19.62020-09-30: 19.52020-12-31: 19.22021-03-31: 18.42021-06-30: 19.12021-09-30: 20.42021-12-31: 18.72022-03-31: 16.92022-06-30: 16.62022-09-30: 17.22022-12-31: 18.52023-03-31: 18.92023-06-30: 21.12023-09-30: 18.42023-12-31: 22.02024-03-31: 22.22024-06-30: 23.72024-09-30: 21.02024-12-31: 18.32025-03-31: 17.02025-06-30: 17.62025-09-30: 18.82025-12-31: 15.82026-03-31: 15.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.7 to 23.7 · axis starts at 14.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.7, basis not documented by the producer

10.2%
6.212.418.62020-03-31: 13.52020-06-30: 14.42020-09-30: 12.62020-12-31: 12.72021-03-31: 12.12021-06-30: 11.42021-09-30: 11.52021-12-31: 13.52022-03-31: 14.22022-06-30: 14.42022-09-30: 17.42022-12-31: 15.52023-03-31: 14.22023-06-30: 16.12023-09-30: 12.92023-12-31: 10.42024-03-31: 9.32024-09-30: 7.42024-12-31: 10.42025-03-31: 10.82025-06-30: 10.92025-09-30: 10.02025-12-31: 9.42026-03-31: 10.2 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 7.4 to 17.4 · axis starts at 6.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.9, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

27.7%
13.822.030.12020-03-31: 252020-06-30: 24.92020-09-30: 23.72020-12-31: 23.32021-03-31: 25.22021-06-30: 26.12021-09-30: 28.52021-12-31: 28.42022-03-31: 26.02022-06-30: 22.02022-09-30: 18.62022-12-31: 17.52023-03-31: 16.92023-06-30: 16.12023-09-30: 22.72023-12-31: 21.32024-03-31: 22.62024-06-30: 18.92024-09-30: 15.42024-12-31: 21.52025-03-31: 22.22025-06-30: 23.72025-09-30: 28.02025-12-31: 25.32026-03-31: 27.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.4 to 28.5 · axis starts at 13.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.8, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£20,395
8,48915k22k1997-12-31: 9,7651998-12-31: 9,8011999-12-31: 10k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 13k2008-12-31: 13k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 14k2012-12-31: 14k2013-12-31: 15k2014-12-31: 15k2015-12-31: 15k2016-12-31: 15k2017-12-31: 16k2018-12-31: 16k2019-12-31: 17k2020-12-31: 17k2021-12-31: 17k2022-12-31: 18k2023-12-31: 19k2024-12-31: 20k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,765 to 20k · axis starts at 8,489

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,504
1,5902,0962,6022020-01-31: 1,7122020-02-29: 1,7202020-03-31: 1,7222020-04-30: 1,6882020-05-31: 1,6972020-06-30: 1,7172020-07-31: 1,7542020-08-31: 1,7662020-09-30: 1,7802020-10-31: 1,7922020-11-30: 1,7882020-12-31: 1,8182021-01-31: 1,7842021-02-28: 1,7902021-03-31: 1,8112021-04-30: 1,8262021-05-31: 1,8242021-06-30: 1,8282021-07-31: 1,8342021-08-31: 1,8422021-09-30: 1,8642021-10-31: 1,8602021-11-30: 1,8672021-12-31: 1,9102022-01-31: 1,8702022-02-28: 1,8912022-03-31: 1,9192022-04-30: 1,9342022-05-31: 1,9432022-06-30: 1,9492022-07-31: 1,9572022-08-31: 1,9682022-09-30: 2,0162022-10-31: 2,0292022-11-30: 2,0592022-12-31: 2,0492023-01-31: 2,0212023-02-28: 2,0232023-03-31: 2,0452023-04-30: 2,0852023-05-31: 2,1142023-06-30: 2,1652023-07-31: 2,1192023-08-31: 2,1232023-09-30: 2,1312023-10-31: 2,1432023-11-30: 2,1922023-12-31: 2,2132024-01-31: 2,1532024-02-29: 2,1612024-03-31: 2,1872024-04-30: 2,2322024-05-31: 2,2532024-06-30: 2,2512024-07-31: 2,2512024-08-31: 2,2612024-09-30: 2,2702024-10-31: 2,3302024-11-30: 2,3342024-12-31: 2,3462025-01-31: 2,2932025-02-28: 2,2992025-03-31: 2,3212025-04-30: 2,3632025-05-31: 2,3782025-06-30: 2,3782025-07-31: 2,3912025-08-31: 2,4202025-09-30: 2,4062025-10-31: 2,4062025-11-30: 2,4112025-12-31: 2,4452026-01-31: 2,4102026-02-28: 2,4122026-03-31: 2,4362026-04-30: 2,4822026-05-31: 2,4932026-06-30: 2,5012026-07-31: 2,504 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,688 to 2,504 · axis starts at 1,590

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.

277,105
255k269k283k2020-01-31: 262k2020-02-29: 262k2020-03-31: 262k2020-04-30: 259k2020-05-31: 259k2020-06-30: 259k2020-07-31: 259k2020-08-31: 258k2020-09-30: 258k2020-10-31: 258k2020-11-30: 259k2020-12-31: 258k2021-01-31: 257k2021-02-28: 257k2021-03-31: 258k2021-04-30: 259k2021-05-31: 261k2021-06-30: 262k2021-07-31: 263k2021-08-31: 264k2021-09-30: 265k2021-10-31: 266k2021-11-30: 267k2021-12-31: 267k2022-01-31: 265k2022-02-28: 266k2022-03-31: 266k2022-04-30: 266k2022-05-31: 267k2022-06-30: 267k2022-07-31: 269k2022-08-31: 268k2022-09-30: 270k2022-10-31: 271k2022-11-30: 272k2022-12-31: 272k2023-01-31: 270k2023-02-28: 270k2023-03-31: 270k2023-04-30: 271k2023-05-31: 272k2023-06-30: 273k2023-07-31: 274k2023-08-31: 273k2023-09-30: 275k2023-10-31: 275k2023-11-30: 277k2023-12-31: 276k2024-01-31: 274k2024-02-29: 274k2024-03-31: 274k2024-04-30: 276k2024-05-31: 277k2024-06-30: 277k2024-07-31: 278k2024-08-31: 277k2024-09-30: 278k2024-10-31: 279k2024-11-30: 280k2024-12-31: 278k2025-01-31: 276k2025-02-28: 276k2025-03-31: 276k2025-04-30: 276k2025-05-31: 277k2025-06-30: 278k2025-07-31: 278k2025-08-31: 277k2025-09-30: 278k2025-10-31: 278k2025-11-30: 279k2025-12-31: 278k2026-01-31: 276k2026-02-28: 276k2026-03-31: 276k2026-04-30: 276k2026-05-31: 277k2026-06-30: 277k2026-07-31: 277k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 257k to 280k · axis starts at 255k

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
19,710
14k17k21k2010-03-31: 15k2011-03-31: 14k2012-03-31: 14k2013-03-31: 14k2014-03-31: 15k2015-03-31: 17k2016-03-31: 17k2017-03-31: 18k2018-03-31: 18k2019-03-31: 19k2020-03-31: 19k2021-03-31: 20k2022-03-31: 20k2023-03-31: 19k2024-03-31: 20k2025-03-31: 20k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 14k to 20k · axis starts at 14k

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

15,280
9,90213k16k2010-03-31: 11k2011-03-31: 11k2012-03-31: 11k2013-03-31: 10k2014-03-31: 11k2015-03-31: 12k2016-03-31: 13k2017-03-31: 14k2018-03-31: 14k2019-03-31: 14k2020-03-31: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2022-03-31: 15k2023-03-31: 15k2024-03-31: 15k2025-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10k to 15k · axis starts at 9,902

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

1,215
8981,0881,2772010-03-31: 9702011-03-31: 9352012-03-31: 9652013-03-31: 1,0052014-03-31: 1,0852015-03-31: 1,1202016-03-31: 1,1202017-03-31: 1,1402018-03-31: 1,2052019-03-31: 1,2252020-03-31: 1,1752021-03-31: 1,1702022-03-31: 1,2402023-03-31: 1,2202024-03-31: 1,1902025-03-31: 1,215 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 935 to 1,240 · axis starts at 898

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

95
80.21051302010-03-31: 852011-03-31: 852012-03-31: 852013-03-31: 952014-03-31: 952015-03-31: 1052016-03-31: 1002017-03-31: 1052018-03-31: 1152019-03-31: 1252020-03-31: 1202021-03-31: 1152022-03-31: 1152023-03-31: 1102024-03-31: 1102025-03-31: 95 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 85 to 125 · axis starts at 80.2

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

20
14.417.520.62010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 20 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

590
4695506312010-03-31: 5102011-03-31: 4852012-03-31: 5102013-03-31: 5452014-03-31: 5502015-03-31: 5752016-03-31: 5702017-03-31: 5752018-03-31: 5702019-03-31: 5752020-03-31: 5902021-03-31: 6002022-03-31: 6152023-03-31: 6102024-03-31: 5902025-03-31: 590 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 485 to 615 · axis starts at 469

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

40
17.63042.42010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 302018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 302021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 252023-03-31: 302024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 40 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 40 · axis starts at 17.6

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

2,240
1,7902,2802,7702010-03-31: 1,9202011-03-31: 1,8852012-03-31: 1,9752013-03-31: 1,9502014-03-31: 1,9702015-03-31: 2,1902016-03-31: 2,1102017-03-31: 2,1502018-03-31: 2,2902019-03-31: 2,6752020-03-31: 2,2702021-03-31: 2,2952022-03-31: 2,4002023-03-31: 2,3752024-03-31: 2,3252025-03-31: 2,240 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,885 to 2,675 · axis starts at 1,790

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

205
1271702132010-03-31: 1402011-03-31: 1402012-03-31: 1352013-03-31: 1452014-03-31: 1702015-03-31: 1602016-03-31: 1752017-03-31: 1852018-03-31: 1802019-03-31: 1852020-03-31: 1802021-03-31: 1902022-03-31: 1852023-03-31: 1902024-03-31: 1952025-03-31: 205 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 135 to 205 · axis starts at 127

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

20
19.422.525.62010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 20 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 25 · axis starts at 19.4

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

22,860
17k21k24k2010-03-31: 18k2011-03-31: 18k2012-03-31: 18k2013-03-31: 18k2014-03-31: 19k2015-03-31: 20k2016-03-31: 21k2017-03-31: 21k2018-03-31: 21k2019-03-31: 23k2020-03-31: 23k2021-03-31: 23k2022-03-31: 23k2023-03-31: 23k2024-03-31: 23k2025-03-31: 23k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 18k to 23k · axis starts at 17k

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

14,172
4,5539,87815k1998-12-31: 5,5841999-12-31: 5,8272000-12-31: 5,9462001-12-31: 6,2872002-12-31: 6,4862003-12-31: 6,7452004-12-31: 7,0492005-12-31: 7,4742006-12-31: 7,8202007-12-31: 8,1372008-12-31: 8,0852009-12-31: 8,0812010-12-31: 8,1742011-12-31: 8,1862012-12-31: 8,5522013-12-31: 9,0612014-12-31: 9,2822015-12-31: 9,7802016-12-31: 10k2017-12-31: 11k2018-12-31: 11k2019-12-31: 11k2020-12-31: 11k2021-12-31: 12k2022-12-31: 13k2023-12-31: 14k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 5,584 to 14k · axis starts at 4,553

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Greater Manchester North West

Bolton · Wigan