The Datum Report

Local area

Leicester

What we think is happening

The job market in Leicester 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
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 26.4% -1.9 in the bottom 8% of 171
% of economically inactive looking after family/home Apr 2025-Mar 2026 26.4% +3.3 in the top 10% of 170
Employment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 67.1% +2.0 in the top 10% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for Leicester. 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
6.1%
4.06.69.12020-03-31: 7.32020-06-30: 6.72020-09-30: 8.22020-12-31: 8.62021-03-31: 7.22021-06-30: 5.82021-09-30: 4.92021-12-31: 4.72022-03-31: 5.92022-06-30: 5.82022-09-30: 5.12022-12-31: 5.82023-03-31: 4.52023-06-30: 5.12023-09-30: 5.62023-12-31: 5.42024-03-31: 5.82024-06-30: 7.12024-09-30: 6.32024-12-31: 6.22025-03-31: 6.62025-06-30: 6.62025-09-30: 6.92025-12-31: 6.12026-03-31: 6.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 4.5 to 8.6 · axis starts at 4.0

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
67.1%
62.369.175.92020-03-31: 72.82020-06-30: 74.52020-09-30: 74.62020-12-31: 72.22021-03-31: 69.92021-06-30: 67.02021-09-30: 66.52021-12-31: 63.62022-03-31: 65.12022-06-30: 66.62022-09-30: 65.62022-12-31: 69.72023-03-31: 66.72023-06-30: 64.62023-09-30: 65.52023-12-31: 65.12024-03-31: 69.22024-06-30: 68.32024-09-30: 67.22024-12-31: 69.52025-03-31: 65.82025-06-30: 64.32025-09-30: 69.42025-12-31: 65.12026-03-31: 67.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 63.6 to 74.6 · axis starts at 62.3

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
8.8%
3.36.710.12020-03-31: 4.12020-06-30: 4.62020-09-30: 4.02020-12-31: 5.92021-03-31: 6.62021-06-30: 7.52021-09-30: 7.42021-12-31: 6.52022-03-31: 6.12022-06-30: 4.82022-09-30: 5.62022-12-31: 5.02023-03-31: 6.62023-06-30: 8.52023-09-30: 8.42023-12-31: 9.42024-03-31: 7.32024-06-30: 9.52024-09-30: 9.02024-12-31: 8.42025-03-31: 9.12025-06-30: 9.22025-09-30: 7.42025-12-31: 9.22026-03-31: 8.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 4.0 to 9.5 · axis starts at 3.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.8, basis not documented by the producer

26.4%
20.726.933.12020-03-31: 24.22020-06-30: 21.92020-09-30: 22.32020-12-31: 23.32021-03-31: 25.12021-06-30: 27.62021-09-30: 28.12021-12-31: 31.92022-03-31: 30.72022-06-30: 30.02022-09-30: 30.52022-12-31: 26.72023-03-31: 28.52023-06-30: 29.32023-09-30: 28.42023-12-31: 28.12024-03-31: 25.32024-06-30: 24.62024-09-30: 26.22024-12-31: 24.12025-03-31: 27.72025-06-30: 29.12025-09-30: 25.02025-12-31: 28.32026-03-31: 26.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 21.9 to 31.9 · axis starts at 20.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.8, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
14,105
6,27213k19k2020-01-31: 7,5452020-02-29: 7,8402020-03-31: 8,0202020-04-30: 13k2020-05-31: 16k2020-06-30: 17k2020-07-31: 17k2020-08-31: 17k2020-09-30: 17k2020-10-31: 17k2020-11-30: 17k2020-12-31: 17k2021-01-31: 17k2021-02-28: 18k2021-03-31: 18k2021-04-30: 18k2021-05-31: 17k2021-06-30: 16k2021-07-31: 16k2021-08-31: 15k2021-09-30: 15k2021-10-31: 14k2021-11-30: 14k2021-12-31: 13k2022-01-31: 13k2022-02-28: 13k2022-03-31: 13k2022-04-30: 12k2022-05-31: 12k2022-06-30: 12k2022-07-31: 11k2022-08-31: 11k2022-09-30: 11k2022-10-31: 11k2022-11-30: 11k2022-12-31: 11k2023-01-31: 11k2023-02-28: 12k2023-03-31: 12k2023-04-30: 13k2023-05-31: 13k2023-06-30: 13k2023-07-31: 13k2023-08-31: 13k2023-09-30: 13k2023-10-31: 12k2023-11-30: 12k2023-12-31: 12k2024-01-31: 12k2024-02-29: 13k2024-03-31: 13k2024-04-30: 13k2024-05-31: 14k2024-06-30: 14k2024-07-31: 16k2024-08-31: 16k2024-09-30: 16k2024-10-31: 16k2024-11-30: 16k2024-12-31: 15k2025-01-31: 15k2025-02-28: 16k2025-03-31: 16k2025-04-30: 15k2025-05-31: 15k2025-06-30: 15k2025-07-31: 15k2025-08-31: 15k2025-09-30: 14k2025-10-31: 14k2025-11-30: 14k2025-12-31: 13k2026-01-31: 13k2026-02-28: 14k2026-03-31: 14k2026-04-30: 14k2026-05-31: 14k2026-06-30: 14k2026-07-31: 14k2026-08-31: 14k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 7,545 to 18k · axis starts at 6,272

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

5.4%
5.15.25.42026-01-31: 5.12026-02-28: 5.32026-03-31: 5.42026-04-30: 5.42026-05-31: 5.42026-06-30: 5.32026-07-31: 5.32026-08-31: 5.4 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 5.1 to 5.4 · axis starts at 5.1

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.

25.2%
12.321.630.92020-03-31: 15.42020-06-30: 16.32020-09-30: 18.02020-12-31: 16.82021-03-31: 17.82021-06-30: 18.92021-09-30: 17.22021-12-31: 15.72022-03-31: 15.62022-06-30: 17.22022-09-30: 14.12022-12-31: 17.92023-03-31: 18.52023-06-30: 17.92023-09-30: 24.92023-12-31: 25.62024-03-31: 28.22024-06-30: 29.12024-09-30: 26.52024-12-31: 27.82025-03-31: 23.32025-06-30: 26.12025-09-30: 24.62025-12-31: 22.72026-03-31: 25.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.1 to 29.1 · axis starts at 12.3

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

26.4%
21.728.936.12020-03-31: 27.42020-06-30: 29.82020-09-30: 27.32020-12-31: 27.22021-03-31: 29.12021-06-30: 24.42021-09-30: 23.32021-12-31: 23.52022-03-31: 23.82022-06-30: 24.12022-09-30: 26.12022-12-31: 30.92023-03-31: 31.62023-06-30: 34.72023-09-30: 32.62023-12-31: 29.72024-03-31: 27.72024-06-30: 25.52024-09-30: 27.62024-12-31: 31.52025-03-31: 26.62025-06-30: 27.12025-09-30: 30.92025-12-31: 23.12026-03-31: 26.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 23.1 to 34.7 · axis starts at 21.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.4, basis not documented by the producer

3.0%
1.37.814.32020-03-31: 3.02020-06-30: 3.52020-09-30: 4.52020-12-31: 7.72021-03-31: 13.12021-06-30: 12.92021-09-30: 12.82021-12-31: 10.22022-03-31: 9.02022-06-30: 8.52022-09-30: 7.32022-12-31: 5.72023-03-31: 3.32023-06-30: 3.52023-09-30: 3.12023-12-31: 3.52024-06-30: 2.62024-09-30: 2.72024-12-31: 3.72025-03-31: 5.02025-06-30: 2.92025-09-30: 2.52025-12-31: 2.82026-03-31: 3 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 2.5 to 13.1 · axis starts at 1.3

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

34.9%
23.133.744.22020-03-31: 37.62020-06-30: 35.12020-09-30: 35.82020-12-31: 33.72021-03-31: 25.12021-06-30: 31.52021-09-30: 36.72021-12-31: 40.82022-03-31: 42.22022-06-30: 39.62022-09-30: 40.62022-12-31: 32.32023-03-31: 34.22023-06-30: 31.82023-09-30: 27.62023-12-31: 27.72024-03-31: 28.62024-06-30: 29.62024-09-30: 28.52024-12-31: 26.82025-03-31: 28.62025-06-30: 28.32025-09-30: 27.82025-12-31: 33.52026-03-31: 34.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 25.1 to 42.2 · axis starts at 23.1

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

Pay 3
£16,786
7,03912k18k1997-12-31: 8,2641998-12-31: 8,0831999-12-31: 8,5242000-12-31: 9,0002001-12-31: 9,3462002-12-31: 9,6472003-12-31: 9,8372004-12-31: 10k2005-12-31: 9,9512006-12-31: 10k2007-12-31: 11k2008-12-31: 11k2009-12-31: 11k2010-12-31: 11k2011-12-31: 11k2012-12-31: 11k2013-12-31: 12k2014-12-31: 12k2015-12-31: 12k2016-12-31: 13k2017-12-31: 13k2018-12-31: 13k2019-12-31: 14k2020-12-31: 14k2021-12-31: 15k2022-12-31: 15k2023-12-31: 16k2024-12-31: 17k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 8,083 to 17k · axis starts at 7,039

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,339
1,3831,9122,4412020-01-31: 1,5132020-02-29: 1,5332020-03-31: 1,5152020-04-30: 1,4852020-05-31: 1,5172020-06-30: 1,5412020-07-31: 1,5702020-08-31: 1,5832020-09-30: 1,6162020-10-31: 1,6122020-11-30: 1,6122020-12-31: 1,6292021-01-31: 1,5982021-02-28: 1,6052021-03-31: 1,6312021-04-30: 1,6452021-05-31: 1,6472021-06-30: 1,6592021-07-31: 1,6692021-08-31: 1,6742021-09-30: 1,6912021-10-31: 1,7002021-11-30: 1,7102021-12-31: 1,7312022-01-31: 1,6912022-02-28: 1,7082022-03-31: 1,7372022-04-30: 1,7452022-05-31: 1,7552022-06-30: 1,7642022-07-31: 1,7772022-08-31: 1,7852022-09-30: 1,8172022-10-31: 1,8152022-11-30: 1,8372022-12-31: 1,8552023-01-31: 1,7972023-02-28: 1,8192023-03-31: 1,8292023-04-30: 1,8762023-05-31: 1,9092023-06-30: 1,9492023-07-31: 1,9282023-08-31: 1,9302023-09-30: 1,9452023-10-31: 1,9512023-11-30: 2,0002023-12-31: 1,9922024-01-31: 1,9512024-02-29: 1,9782024-03-31: 1,9872024-04-30: 2,0492024-05-31: 2,0652024-06-30: 2,0672024-07-31: 2,0852024-08-31: 2,0892024-09-30: 2,1102024-10-31: 2,1492024-11-30: 2,1632024-12-31: 2,1532025-01-31: 2,1162025-02-28: 2,1362025-03-31: 2,1362025-04-30: 2,1902025-05-31: 2,2022025-06-30: 2,2032025-07-31: 2,2232025-08-31: 2,2472025-09-30: 2,2402025-10-31: 2,2492025-11-30: 2,2622025-12-31: 2,2822026-01-31: 2,2342026-02-28: 2,2502026-03-31: 2,2522026-04-30: 2,3022026-05-31: 2,3152026-06-30: 2,3212026-07-31: 2,339 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,485 to 2,339 · axis starts at 1,383

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.

170,084
146k161k177k2020-01-31: 154k2020-02-29: 153k2020-03-31: 153k2020-04-30: 150k2020-05-31: 150k2020-06-30: 150k2020-07-31: 150k2020-08-31: 150k2020-09-30: 150k2020-10-31: 151k2020-11-30: 152k2020-12-31: 152k2021-01-31: 150k2021-02-28: 149k2021-03-31: 149k2021-04-30: 151k2021-05-31: 153k2021-06-30: 155k2021-07-31: 156k2021-08-31: 157k2021-09-30: 158k2021-10-31: 159k2021-11-30: 161k2021-12-31: 161k2022-01-31: 159k2022-02-28: 159k2022-03-31: 159k2022-04-30: 160k2022-05-31: 160k2022-06-30: 161k2022-07-31: 161k2022-08-31: 162k2022-09-30: 163k2022-10-31: 164k2022-11-30: 167k2022-12-31: 167k2023-01-31: 164k2023-02-28: 162k2023-03-31: 163k2023-04-30: 163k2023-05-31: 164k2023-06-30: 165k2023-07-31: 165k2023-08-31: 165k2023-09-30: 167k2023-10-31: 168k2023-11-30: 170k2023-12-31: 170k2024-01-31: 168k2024-02-29: 167k2024-03-31: 166k2024-04-30: 168k2024-05-31: 169k2024-06-30: 170k2024-07-31: 170k2024-08-31: 169k2024-09-30: 170k2024-10-31: 172k2024-11-30: 173k2024-12-31: 173k2025-01-31: 170k2025-02-28: 168k2025-03-31: 168k2025-04-30: 169k2025-05-31: 169k2025-06-30: 170k2025-07-31: 170k2025-08-31: 170k2025-09-30: 171k2025-10-31: 172k2025-11-30: 174k2025-12-31: 173k2026-01-31: 169k2026-02-28: 168k2026-03-31: 167k2026-04-30: 168k2026-05-31: 169k2026-06-30: 170k2026-07-31: 170k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 149k to 174k · axis starts at 146k

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
13,315
7,08312k17k2010-03-31: 8,1402011-03-31: 8,0302012-03-31: 8,4402013-03-31: 8,6052014-03-31: 9,2902015-03-31: 10k2016-03-31: 11k2017-03-31: 12k2018-03-31: 12k2019-03-31: 13k2020-03-31: 13k2021-03-31: 16k2022-03-31: 15k2023-03-31: 14k2024-03-31: 14k2025-03-31: 13k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 8,030 to 16k · axis starts at 7,083

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

10,290
4,8329,08213k2010-03-31: 5,7152011-03-31: 5,6552012-03-31: 5,9152013-03-31: 6,0102014-03-31: 6,4902015-03-31: 7,3552016-03-31: 8,0702017-03-31: 9,0452018-03-31: 9,3902019-03-31: 9,7052020-03-31: 10k2021-03-31: 13k2022-03-31: 11k2023-03-31: 10k2024-03-31: 10k2025-03-31: 10k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5,655 to 13k · axis starts at 4,832

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

765
5457289102010-03-31: 6052011-03-31: 5802012-03-31: 6402013-03-31: 6652014-03-31: 7302015-03-31: 7802016-03-31: 7652017-03-31: 7652018-03-31: 7802019-03-31: 7852020-03-31: 8752021-03-31: 8202022-03-31: 8202023-03-31: 7852024-03-31: 7652025-03-31: 765 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 580 to 875 · axis starts at 545

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

65
48.257.566.82010-03-31: 552011-03-31: 502012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 552014-03-31: 552015-03-31: 552016-03-31: 552017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 552019-03-31: 602020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 552022-03-31: 552023-03-31: 602024-03-31: 552025-03-31: 65 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

20
13.82026.22010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 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

445
3184084972010-03-31: 3502011-03-31: 3352012-03-31: 3502013-03-31: 3802014-03-31: 4102015-03-31: 4502016-03-31: 4452017-03-31: 4652018-03-31: 4602019-03-31: 4502020-03-31: 4752021-03-31: 4802022-03-31: 4802023-03-31: 4702024-03-31: 4602025-03-31: 445 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 335 to 480 · axis starts at 318

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

25
13.222.531.82010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 25 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 30 · axis starts at 13.2

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

1,560
1,1541,5451,9362010-03-31: 1,2352011-03-31: 1,2302012-03-31: 1,3052013-03-31: 1,3102014-03-31: 1,4252015-03-31: 1,5252016-03-31: 1,4402017-03-31: 1,4602018-03-31: 1,5052019-03-31: 1,5552020-03-31: 1,5902021-03-31: 1,8602022-03-31: 1,6352023-03-31: 1,5302024-03-31: 1,5352025-03-31: 1,560 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,230 to 1,860 · axis starts at 1,154

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

140
1201481752010-03-31: 1302011-03-31: 1252012-03-31: 1252013-03-31: 1302014-03-31: 1352015-03-31: 1352016-03-31: 1402017-03-31: 1452018-03-31: 1552019-03-31: 1702020-03-31: 1552021-03-31: 1502022-03-31: 1602023-03-31: 1602024-03-31: 1502025-03-31: 140 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 125 to 170 · axis starts at 120

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

5
3.81016.22010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 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: 5 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

15,215
9,27214k19k2010-03-31: 10k2011-03-31: 10k2012-03-31: 11k2013-03-31: 11k2014-03-31: 11k2015-03-31: 12k2016-03-31: 13k2017-03-31: 14k2018-03-31: 14k2019-03-31: 15k2020-03-31: 15k2021-03-31: 18k2022-03-31: 17k2023-03-31: 15k2024-03-31: 15k2025-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10k to 18k · axis starts at 9,272

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

10,320
3,0327,06611k1998-12-31: 3,8131999-12-31: 3,9282000-12-31: 4,1322001-12-31: 4,2492002-12-31: 4,3652003-12-31: 4,6672004-12-31: 5,0182005-12-31: 5,2662006-12-31: 5,6482007-12-31: 5,9682008-12-31: 6,2232009-12-31: 6,1812010-12-31: 6,4682011-12-31: 6,5222012-12-31: 6,7842013-12-31: 7,0222014-12-31: 7,6242015-12-31: 7,8862016-12-31: 8,1062017-12-31: 8,2312018-12-31: 8,5792019-12-31: 8,7902020-12-31: 8,4272021-12-31: 9,1742022-12-31: 9,5062023-12-31: 10k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 3,813 to 10k · axis starts at 3,032

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Leicester

Leicester