The Datum Report

Local area

Lewisham and Southwark

What we think is happening

The job market in Lewisham and Southwark has been getting stronger.

improving · 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
Businesses employing 50 to 99 people 2025 365 +35 in the top 7% of 182
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 25.0% -5.3 in the bottom 5% of 171
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 5.8% -2.2 in the bottom 1% of 169

By subject

Every figure published for Lewisham and Southwark. 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
12.8%
9.113.317.62020-03-31: 14.32020-06-30: 12.02020-09-30: 12.42020-12-31: 12.22021-03-31: 10.32021-06-30: 11.32021-09-30: 10.32021-12-31: 10.52022-03-31: 9.92022-06-30: 10.42022-09-30: 10.72022-12-31: 11.02023-03-31: 11.92023-06-30: 12.12023-09-30: 12.82023-12-31: 14.42024-03-31: 14.42024-06-30: 14.42024-09-30: 13.72024-12-31: 14.52025-03-31: 15.92025-06-30: 16.32025-09-30: 16.82025-12-31: 13.92026-03-31: 12.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 9.9 to 16.8 · axis starts at 9.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.7, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
77.3%
71.877.182.52020-03-31: 81.02020-06-30: 80.82020-09-30: 81.42020-12-31: 80.72021-03-31: 77.62021-06-30: 77.32021-09-30: 75.52021-12-31: 76.12022-03-31: 76.72022-06-30: 78.32022-09-30: 77.62022-12-31: 79.02023-03-31: 78.82023-06-30: 78.72023-09-30: 78.62023-12-31: 75.32024-03-31: 77.02024-06-30: 74.52024-09-30: 76.52024-12-31: 74.72025-03-31: 73.42025-06-30: 74.82025-09-30: 72.82025-12-31: 75.42026-03-31: 77.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.8 to 81.4 · axis starts at 71.8

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
5.8%
2.35.48.62020-03-31: 4.42020-06-30: 5.22020-09-30: 5.62020-12-31: 6.42021-03-31: 7.42021-06-30: 6.72021-09-30: 6.52021-12-31: 5.42022-03-31: 4.02022-06-30: 2.92022-09-30: 3.42022-12-31: 3.82023-03-31: 4.82023-06-30: 5.82023-09-30: 5.32023-12-31: 4.92024-03-31: 5.12024-09-30: 4.32024-12-31: 5.42025-03-31: 7.22025-06-30: 5.72025-09-30: 6.92025-12-31: 82026-03-31: 5.8 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 2.9 to 8 · axis starts at 2.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.1, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

18.0%
12.817.822.82020-03-31: 15.32020-06-30: 14.82020-09-30: 13.82020-12-31: 13.82021-03-31: 16.22021-06-30: 17.12021-09-30: 19.32021-12-31: 19.52022-03-31: 20.22022-06-30: 19.42022-09-30: 19.62022-12-31: 17.92023-03-31: 17.32023-06-30: 16.42023-09-30: 17.02023-12-31: 20.82024-03-31: 18.92024-06-30: 21.82024-09-30: 20.02024-12-31: 21.02025-03-31: 20.92025-06-30: 20.72025-09-30: 21.82025-12-31: 182026-03-31: 18 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.8 to 21.8 · axis starts at 12.8

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

Claimant count
August 2026
27,820
13k29k45k2020-01-31: 16k2020-02-29: 17k2020-03-31: 17k2020-04-30: 27k2020-05-31: 38k2020-06-30: 37k2020-07-31: 38k2020-08-31: 39k2020-09-30: 40k2020-10-31: 39k2020-11-30: 41k2020-12-31: 41k2021-01-31: 40k2021-02-28: 42k2021-03-31: 42k2021-04-30: 42k2021-05-31: 39k2021-06-30: 36k2021-07-31: 35k2021-08-31: 34k2021-09-30: 32k2021-10-31: 31k2021-11-30: 29k2021-12-31: 28k2022-01-31: 27k2022-02-28: 28k2022-03-31: 27k2022-04-30: 25k2022-05-31: 25k2022-06-30: 24k2022-07-31: 24k2022-08-31: 23k2022-09-30: 24k2022-10-31: 23k2022-11-30: 23k2022-12-31: 23k2023-01-31: 23k2023-02-28: 23k2023-03-31: 24k2023-04-30: 24k2023-05-31: 23k2023-06-30: 24k2023-07-31: 24k2023-08-31: 24k2023-09-30: 24k2023-10-31: 24k2023-11-30: 24k2023-12-31: 25k2024-01-31: 25k2024-02-29: 25k2024-03-31: 26k2024-04-30: 25k2024-05-31: 26k2024-06-30: 26k2024-07-31: 28k2024-08-31: 28k2024-09-30: 28k2024-10-31: 28k2024-11-30: 28k2024-12-31: 28k2025-01-31: 28k2025-02-28: 28k2025-03-31: 28k2025-04-30: 28k2025-05-31: 28k2025-06-30: 29k2025-07-31: 28k2025-08-31: 28k2025-09-30: 28k2025-10-31: 28k2025-11-30: 28k2025-12-31: 27k2026-01-31: 27k2026-02-28: 28k2026-03-31: 28k2026-04-30: 28k2026-05-31: 28k2026-06-30: 28k2026-07-31: 27k2026-08-31: 28k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 16k to 42k · axis starts at 13k

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

6.2%
6.06.16.22026-01-31: 62026-02-28: 6.22026-03-31: 6.22026-04-30: 6.12026-05-31: 6.22026-06-30: 6.22026-07-31: 6.12026-08-31: 6.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 6 to 6.2 · axis starts at 6.0

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.

19.6%
17.325.133.02020-03-31: 25.82020-06-30: 22.02020-09-30: 20.82020-12-31: 19.32021-03-31: 21.72021-06-30: 23.72021-09-30: 23.62021-12-31: 22.82022-03-31: 20.22022-06-30: 21.82022-09-30: 20.32022-12-31: 18.82023-03-31: 25.12023-06-30: 24.52023-09-30: 23.22023-12-31: 31.42024-03-31: 23.12024-06-30: 20.12024-09-30: 22.02024-12-31: 22.62025-03-31: 23.62025-06-30: 23.82025-09-30: 25.32025-12-31: 19.32026-03-31: 19.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18.8 to 31.4 · axis starts at 17.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.2, basis not documented by the producer

19.0%
9.615.922.32020-03-31: 20.92020-06-30: 17.52020-09-30: 13.92020-12-31: 12.92021-03-31: 12.22021-06-30: 12.72021-09-30: 15.62021-12-31: 16.62022-03-31: 16.82022-06-30: 18.52022-09-30: 19.32022-12-31: 18.32023-03-31: 20.32023-06-30: 19.82023-09-30: 17.52023-12-31: 14.42024-09-30: 10.82024-12-31: 19.32025-03-31: 20.12025-06-30: 21.02025-09-30: 17.92025-12-31: 17.62026-03-31: 19 2020-03 2026-03
23 monthly readings · 10.8 to 21.0 · axis starts at 9.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.1, basis not documented by the producer
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

5.7%
3.26.39.32020-12-31: 8.12021-03-31: 7.72021-06-30: 6.32021-09-30: 4.72022-12-31: 4.82023-03-31: 7.22023-12-31: 8.62024-03-31: 7.12024-06-30: 8.72024-09-30: 8.32025-12-31: 3.82026-03-31: 5.7 2020-12 2026-03
12 monthly readings · 3.8 to 8.7 · axis starts at 3.2

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

25.0%
22.435.949.32020-03-31: 32.92020-06-30: 28.32020-09-30: 29.22020-12-31: 31.82021-03-31: 36.22021-06-30: 42.82021-09-30: 43.82021-12-31: 43.32022-03-31: 46.72022-06-30: 43.42022-09-30: 42.22022-12-31: 44.02023-03-31: 34.82023-06-30: 35.62023-09-30: 39.52023-12-31: 32.52024-03-31: 43.62024-06-30: 42.52024-09-30: 38.72024-12-31: 37.92025-03-31: 33.22025-06-30: 36.52025-09-30: 33.32025-12-31: 30.32026-03-31: 25 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 25 to 46.7 · axis starts at 22.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.9, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£33,475
7,07122k36k1997-12-31: 9,9001998-12-31: 10k1999-12-31: 11k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 12k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 13k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 16k2007-12-31: 17k2008-12-31: 18k2009-12-31: 18k2010-12-31: 18k2011-12-31: 18k2012-12-31: 19k2013-12-31: 20k2014-12-31: 22k2015-12-31: 23k2016-12-31: 24k2017-12-31: 25k2018-12-31: 26k2019-12-31: 27k2020-12-31: 27k2021-12-31: 28k2022-12-31: 30k2023-12-31: 31k2024-12-31: 33k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,900 to 33k · axis starts at 7,071

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£3,315
2,1782,8083,4372020-01-31: 2,3682020-02-29: 2,3672020-03-31: 2,3642020-04-30: 2,3082020-05-31: 2,3002020-06-30: 2,3142020-07-31: 2,3562020-08-31: 2,3982020-09-30: 2,4412020-10-31: 2,4762020-11-30: 2,4852020-12-31: 2,5182021-01-31: 2,4832021-02-28: 2,4822021-03-31: 2,5172021-04-30: 2,5362021-05-31: 2,5372021-06-30: 2,5372021-07-31: 2,5372021-08-31: 2,5482021-09-30: 2,5802021-10-31: 2,5982021-11-30: 2,5982021-12-31: 2,6342022-01-31: 2,6082022-02-28: 2,6032022-03-31: 2,6542022-04-30: 2,6652022-05-31: 2,6842022-06-30: 2,6792022-07-31: 2,6962022-08-31: 2,7192022-09-30: 2,7702022-10-31: 2,7622022-11-30: 2,8052022-12-31: 2,8632023-01-31: 2,8082023-02-28: 2,7902023-03-31: 2,8332023-04-30: 2,8352023-05-31: 2,8762023-06-30: 2,9282023-07-31: 2,8892023-08-31: 2,8932023-09-30: 2,9082023-10-31: 2,9162023-11-30: 2,9592023-12-31: 3,0182024-01-31: 2,9592024-02-29: 2,9532024-03-31: 2,9812024-04-30: 2,9912024-05-31: 2,9942024-06-30: 3,0022024-07-31: 3,0192024-08-31: 3,0292024-09-30: 3,0442024-10-31: 3,1292024-11-30: 3,1292024-12-31: 3,1402025-01-31: 3,1122025-02-28: 3,0892025-03-31: 3,1202025-04-30: 3,1352025-05-31: 3,1472025-06-30: 3,1482025-07-31: 3,1722025-08-31: 3,2132025-09-30: 3,2132025-10-31: 3,2132025-11-30: 3,2132025-12-31: 3,2662026-01-31: 3,2272026-02-28: 3,2192026-03-31: 3,2602026-04-30: 3,2852026-05-31: 3,2922026-06-30: 3,3042026-07-31: 3,315 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 2,300 to 3,315 · axis starts at 2,178

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.

315,700
283k304k326k2020-01-31: 305k2020-02-29: 306k2020-03-31: 306k2020-04-30: 300k2020-05-31: 298k2020-06-30: 298k2020-07-31: 298k2020-08-31: 294k2020-09-30: 292k2020-10-31: 291k2020-11-30: 290k2020-12-31: 290k2021-01-31: 287k2021-02-28: 287k2021-03-31: 288k2021-04-30: 290k2021-05-31: 294k2021-06-30: 297k2021-07-31: 299k2021-08-31: 300k2021-09-30: 302k2021-10-31: 303k2021-11-30: 307k2021-12-31: 307k2022-01-31: 305k2022-02-28: 307k2022-03-31: 309k2022-04-30: 310k2022-05-31: 312k2022-06-30: 314k2022-07-31: 315k2022-08-31: 313k2022-09-30: 315k2022-10-31: 316k2022-11-30: 319k2022-12-31: 318k2023-01-31: 315k2023-02-28: 317k2023-03-31: 317k2023-04-30: 317k2023-05-31: 318k2023-06-30: 320k2023-07-31: 320k2023-08-31: 317k2023-09-30: 319k2023-10-31: 320k2023-11-30: 321k2023-12-31: 321k2024-01-31: 318k2024-02-29: 318k2024-03-31: 319k2024-04-30: 319k2024-05-31: 321k2024-06-30: 321k2024-07-31: 321k2024-08-31: 318k2024-09-30: 319k2024-10-31: 321k2024-11-30: 321k2024-12-31: 320k2025-01-31: 318k2025-02-28: 318k2025-03-31: 318k2025-04-30: 317k2025-05-31: 318k2025-06-30: 319k2025-07-31: 319k2025-08-31: 316k2025-09-30: 317k2025-10-31: 317k2025-11-30: 318k2025-12-31: 317k2026-01-31: 314k2026-02-28: 314k2026-03-31: 315k2026-04-30: 314k2026-05-31: 315k2026-06-30: 316k2026-07-31: 316k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 287k to 321k · axis starts at 283k

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
25,450
16k22k28k2010-03-31: 17k2011-03-31: 18k2012-03-31: 19k2013-03-31: 19k2014-03-31: 20k2015-03-31: 23k2016-03-31: 25k2017-03-31: 26k2018-03-31: 26k2019-03-31: 27k2020-03-31: 27k2021-03-31: 27k2022-03-31: 27k2023-03-31: 25k2024-03-31: 25k2025-03-31: 25k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 17k to 27k · axis starts at 16k

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

20,015
12k18k23k2010-03-31: 13k2011-03-31: 14k2012-03-31: 15k2013-03-31: 15k2014-03-31: 16k2015-03-31: 18k2016-03-31: 20k2017-03-31: 22k2018-03-31: 21k2019-03-31: 22k2020-03-31: 22k2021-03-31: 22k2022-03-31: 21k2023-03-31: 20k2024-03-31: 20k2025-03-31: 20k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 13k to 22k · axis starts at 12k

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

1,515
8981,2421,5872010-03-31: 9652011-03-31: 9702012-03-31: 1,0802013-03-31: 1,1102014-03-31: 1,1602015-03-31: 1,2352016-03-31: 1,2552017-03-31: 1,3202018-03-31: 1,3352019-03-31: 1,4052020-03-31: 1,4352021-03-31: 1,3802022-03-31: 1,3852023-03-31: 1,4452024-03-31: 1,5202025-03-31: 1,515 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 965 to 1,520 · axis starts at 898

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

195
88.61482062010-03-31: 1002011-03-31: 1052012-03-31: 1152013-03-31: 1202014-03-31: 1352015-03-31: 1252016-03-31: 1402017-03-31: 1602018-03-31: 1602019-03-31: 1602020-03-31: 1702021-03-31: 1702022-03-31: 1752023-03-31: 1802024-03-31: 1852025-03-31: 195 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 100 to 195 · axis starts at 88.6

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

40
28.237.546.82010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 352013-03-31: 302014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 402019-03-31: 402020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 452022-03-31: 452023-03-31: 452024-03-31: 402025-03-31: 40 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 45 · axis starts at 28.2

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

900
4217009792010-03-31: 4752011-03-31: 5252012-03-31: 5902013-03-31: 6102014-03-31: 6352015-03-31: 7002016-03-31: 6902017-03-31: 7452018-03-31: 7502019-03-31: 7852020-03-31: 8102021-03-31: 8202022-03-31: 8452023-03-31: 9252024-03-31: 9152025-03-31: 900 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 475 to 925 · axis starts at 421

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

80
2455862010-03-31: 402011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 352014-03-31: 402015-03-31: 402016-03-31: 452017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 502019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 452021-03-31: 552022-03-31: 602023-03-31: 602024-03-31: 752025-03-31: 80 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 80 · axis starts at 24

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

2,310
1,6972,0752,4532010-03-31: 1,7702011-03-31: 2,0352012-03-31: 2,1152013-03-31: 1,9152014-03-31: 2,0252015-03-31: 2,2402016-03-31: 2,1602017-03-31: 2,2602018-03-31: 2,2952019-03-31: 2,3352020-03-31: 2,3052021-03-31: 2,3552022-03-31: 2,3552023-03-31: 2,3802024-03-31: 2,3152025-03-31: 2,310 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,770 to 2,380 · axis starts at 1,697

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

365
1522703882010-03-31: 1752011-03-31: 2152012-03-31: 2102013-03-31: 2202014-03-31: 2252015-03-31: 2452016-03-31: 2652017-03-31: 2502018-03-31: 2852019-03-31: 2902020-03-31: 2952021-03-31: 2802022-03-31: 3052023-03-31: 3152024-03-31: 3302025-03-31: 365 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 175 to 365 · axis starts at 152

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

30
18.227.536.82010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 302021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 302023-03-31: 302024-03-31: 352025-03-31: 30 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 35 · axis starts at 18.2

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

29,050
19k26k32k2010-03-31: 21k2011-03-31: 21k2012-03-31: 22k2013-03-31: 22k2014-03-31: 24k2015-03-31: 26k2016-03-31: 28k2017-03-31: 30k2018-03-31: 29k2019-03-31: 30k2020-03-31: 31k2021-03-31: 30k2022-03-31: 30k2023-03-31: 29k2024-03-31: 29k2025-03-31: 29k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 21k to 31k · axis starts at 19k

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

30,375
5,70919k33k1998-12-31: 8,3521999-12-31: 8,8632000-12-31: 9,7172001-12-31: 10k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 16k2011-12-31: 18k2012-12-31: 19k2013-12-31: 19k2014-12-31: 19k2015-12-31: 21k2016-12-31: 22k2017-12-31: 22k2018-12-31: 24k2019-12-31: 25k2020-12-31: 23k2021-12-31: 24k2022-12-31: 27k2023-12-31: 30k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 8,352 to 30k · axis starts at 5,709

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Lewisham and Southwark

Lewisham · Southwark