The Datum Report

Local area

Medway

What we think is happening

The job market in Medway has been going both ways.

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

By subject

Every figure published for Medway. 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
10.5%
6.89.512.12020-03-31: 7.32020-06-30: 8.02020-09-30: 9.42020-12-31: 9.42021-03-31: 9.32021-06-30: 8.72021-09-30: 8.82021-12-31: 8.92022-03-31: 8.92022-06-30: 8.32022-09-30: 9.12022-12-31: 9.12023-03-31: 10.62023-06-30: 11.62023-09-30: 10.92023-12-31: 11.42024-03-31: 11.32024-06-30: 10.52024-09-30: 8.92024-12-31: 8.52025-03-31: 9.02025-06-30: 10.82025-09-30: 11.02025-12-31: 10.92026-03-31: 10.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.3 to 11.6 · axis starts at 6.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.5, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
81.0%
72.877.782.72020-03-31: 77.32020-06-30: 76.72020-09-30: 73.82020-12-31: 74.82021-03-31: 75.12021-06-30: 76.72021-09-30: 77.92021-12-31: 77.82022-03-31: 78.12022-06-30: 77.72022-09-30: 79.02022-12-31: 81.22023-03-31: 79.32023-06-30: 79.72023-09-30: 79.22023-12-31: 76.82024-03-31: 78.82024-06-30: 77.92024-09-30: 78.42024-12-31: 79.22025-03-31: 80.52025-06-30: 78.82025-09-30: 80.32025-12-31: 81.72026-03-31: 81 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 73.8 to 81.7 · axis starts at 72.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.2, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.1%
1.73.96.12020-03-31: 4.32020-06-30: 4.62020-09-30: 5.42020-12-31: 5.22021-03-31: 3.72021-06-30: 3.52021-09-30: 3.32021-12-31: 3.72022-03-31: 3.92022-06-30: 4.02022-09-30: 3.52022-12-31: 3.92023-03-31: 3.12023-06-30: 2.12023-09-30: 4.82023-12-31: 4.02024-03-31: 4.02024-06-30: 5.52024-09-30: 2.12024-12-31: 4.22025-03-31: 4.22025-06-30: 5.72025-09-30: 5.22025-12-31: 3.72026-03-31: 3.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 2.1 to 5.7 · axis starts at 1.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.5, basis not documented by the producer

16.4%
14.418.622.92020-03-31: 19.22020-06-30: 19.52020-09-30: 22.12020-12-31: 21.12021-03-31: 22.02021-06-30: 20.62021-09-30: 19.52021-12-31: 19.22022-03-31: 18.82022-06-30: 19.12022-09-30: 18.22022-12-31: 15.52023-03-31: 18.22023-06-30: 18.62023-09-30: 16.82023-12-31: 20.02024-03-31: 17.92024-06-30: 17.62024-09-30: 20.02024-12-31: 17.32025-03-31: 15.92025-06-30: 16.42025-09-30: 15.22025-12-31: 15.22026-03-31: 16.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.2 to 22.1 · axis starts at 14.4

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

Claimant count
August 2026
7,700
4,8278,97813k2020-01-31: 5,6302020-02-29: 5,7652020-03-31: 5,8002020-04-30: 9,3102020-05-31: 12k2020-06-30: 12k2020-07-31: 12k2020-08-31: 12k2020-09-30: 12k2020-10-31: 12k2020-11-30: 12k2020-12-31: 12k2021-01-31: 11k2021-02-28: 12k2021-03-31: 12k2021-04-30: 12k2021-05-31: 11k2021-06-30: 11k2021-07-31: 10k2021-08-31: 10k2021-09-30: 9,5052021-10-31: 9,2302021-11-30: 8,8602021-12-31: 8,6252022-01-31: 8,3152022-02-28: 8,3052022-03-31: 7,9902022-04-30: 7,5752022-05-31: 7,2352022-06-30: 6,8352022-07-31: 6,6552022-08-31: 6,5452022-09-30: 6,5602022-10-31: 6,4102022-11-30: 6,4852022-12-31: 6,4852023-01-31: 6,5652023-02-28: 6,6152023-03-31: 6,6552023-04-30: 6,7802023-05-31: 6,6102023-06-30: 6,7552023-07-31: 6,7852023-08-31: 6,7602023-09-30: 6,7552023-10-31: 6,7202023-11-30: 6,7902023-12-31: 6,7702024-01-31: 6,7902024-02-29: 6,9652024-03-31: 7,0902024-04-30: 6,9402024-05-31: 7,0652024-06-30: 7,0502024-07-31: 7,6252024-08-31: 7,5602024-09-30: 7,5252024-10-31: 7,5352024-11-30: 7,4102024-12-31: 7,4252025-01-31: 7,3252025-02-28: 7,5652025-03-31: 7,6302025-04-30: 7,4952025-05-31: 7,4152025-06-30: 7,3802025-07-31: 7,3352025-08-31: 7,4602025-09-30: 7,4202025-10-31: 7,4352025-11-30: 7,4252025-12-31: 7,3252026-01-31: 7,3602026-02-28: 7,6702026-03-31: 7,7552026-04-30: 7,7052026-05-31: 7,6852026-06-30: 7,6752026-07-31: 7,5502026-08-31: 7,700 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 5,630 to 12k · axis starts at 4,827

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

4.2%
4.04.14.22026-01-31: 42026-02-28: 4.22026-03-31: 4.22026-04-30: 4.22026-05-31: 4.22026-06-30: 4.22026-07-31: 4.12026-08-31: 4.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 4 to 4.2 · axis starts at 4.0

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.

35.4%
17.027.237.42020-03-31: 23.02020-06-30: 23.22020-09-30: 24.02020-12-31: 25.82021-03-31: 23.92021-06-30: 24.22021-09-30: 20.32021-12-31: 20.72022-03-31: 24.62022-06-30: 23.62022-09-30: 252022-12-31: 24.32023-03-31: 22.22023-06-30: 27.32023-09-30: 24.32023-12-31: 19.12024-03-31: 19.92024-06-30: 19.02024-09-30: 22.82024-12-31: 28.32025-03-31: 28.72025-06-30: 27.72025-09-30: 26.52025-12-31: 34.52026-03-31: 35.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 19.0 to 35.4 · axis starts at 17.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.2, basis not documented by the producer

16.0%
14.12433.92020-03-31: 24.82020-06-30: 25.52020-09-30: 22.52020-12-31: 22.12021-03-31: 20.82021-06-30: 20.72021-09-30: 24.32021-12-31: 25.92022-03-31: 27.62022-06-30: 26.82022-09-30: 28.02022-12-31: 28.62023-03-31: 322023-06-30: 31.52023-09-30: 25.92023-12-31: 25.52024-03-31: 22.72024-06-30: 18.72024-09-30: 19.12024-12-31: 18.32025-03-31: 17.82025-06-30: 21.32025-09-30: 18.52025-12-31: 17.42026-03-31: 16 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16 to 32 · axis starts at 14.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.1, basis not documented by the producer

7.7%
1.613.124.52020-03-31: 14.22020-06-30: 13.32020-09-30: 14.32020-12-31: 17.32021-03-31: 19.52021-06-30: 20.72021-09-30: 22.32021-12-31: 21.62022-03-31: 17.52022-06-30: 19.82022-09-30: 14.92022-12-31: 13.82023-03-31: 12.92023-06-30: 10.52023-09-30: 11.62023-12-31: 8.62024-03-31: 9.32024-06-30: 7.92024-09-30: 4.82024-12-31: 7.12025-03-31: 3.82025-06-30: 6.12025-09-30: 9.52025-12-31: 7.72026-03-31: 7.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 3.8 to 22.3 · axis starts at 1.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.1, basis not documented by the producer

23.1%
14.526.638.72020-03-31: 19.22020-06-30: 16.82020-09-30: 21.02020-12-31: 23.12021-03-31: 24.12021-06-30: 22.82021-09-30: 18.92021-12-31: 19.82022-03-31: 17.52022-06-30: 18.72022-09-30: 21.32022-12-31: 20.72023-03-31: 20.92023-06-30: 19.82023-09-30: 32.22023-12-31: 34.62024-03-31: 34.62024-06-30: 36.42024-09-30: 30.32024-12-31: 19.92025-03-31: 22.02025-06-30: 23.32025-09-30: 17.52025-12-31: 212026-03-31: 23.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.8 to 36.4 · axis starts at 14.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.1, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£24,115
8,86717k26k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 11k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 12k2002-12-31: 12k2003-12-31: 13k2004-12-31: 13k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 14k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 15k2009-12-31: 15k2010-12-31: 16k2011-12-31: 16k2012-12-31: 16k2013-12-31: 16k2014-12-31: 17k2015-12-31: 17k2016-12-31: 18k2017-12-31: 18k2018-12-31: 19k2019-12-31: 19k2020-12-31: 20k2021-12-31: 20k2022-12-31: 22k2023-12-31: 23k2024-12-31: 24k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 24k · axis starts at 8,867

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,731
1,7592,3012,8432020-01-31: 1,9012020-02-29: 1,9142020-03-31: 1,9142020-04-30: 1,8642020-05-31: 1,8822020-06-30: 1,9012020-07-31: 1,9252020-08-31: 1,9522020-09-30: 1,9812020-10-31: 1,9752020-11-30: 1,9882020-12-31: 2,0002021-01-31: 1,9752021-02-28: 1,9902021-03-31: 2,0182021-04-30: 2,0292021-05-31: 2,0382021-06-30: 2,0382021-07-31: 2,0432021-08-31: 2,0552021-09-30: 2,0862021-10-31: 2,0912021-11-30: 2,0862021-12-31: 2,1142022-01-31: 2,0982022-02-28: 2,1042022-03-31: 2,1212022-04-30: 2,1372022-05-31: 2,1572022-06-30: 2,1692022-07-31: 2,1722022-08-31: 2,1902022-09-30: 2,2402022-10-31: 2,2212022-11-30: 2,2522022-12-31: 2,2632023-01-31: 2,2362023-02-28: 2,2382023-03-31: 2,2612023-04-30: 2,2922023-05-31: 2,3452023-06-30: 2,3892023-07-31: 2,3332023-08-31: 2,3372023-09-30: 2,3552023-10-31: 2,3502023-11-30: 2,3782023-12-31: 2,3942024-01-31: 2,3682024-02-29: 2,3742024-03-31: 2,4052024-04-30: 2,4402024-05-31: 2,4542024-06-30: 2,4572024-07-31: 2,4582024-08-31: 2,4692024-09-30: 2,5032024-10-31: 2,5382024-11-30: 2,5302024-12-31: 2,5372025-01-31: 2,5192025-02-28: 2,5092025-03-31: 2,5362025-04-30: 2,5762025-05-31: 2,5872025-06-30: 2,5982025-07-31: 2,6092025-08-31: 2,6352025-09-30: 2,6352025-10-31: 2,6352025-11-30: 2,6232025-12-31: 2,6642026-01-31: 2,6382026-02-28: 2,6402026-03-31: 2,6732026-04-30: 2,7142026-05-31: 2,7212026-06-30: 2,7382026-07-31: 2,731 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,864 to 2,738 · axis starts at 1,759

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.

131,970
117k126k134k2020-01-31: 122k2020-02-29: 122k2020-03-31: 122k2020-04-30: 121k2020-05-31: 120k2020-06-30: 120k2020-07-31: 120k2020-08-31: 120k2020-09-30: 120k2020-10-31: 120k2020-11-30: 120k2020-12-31: 120k2021-01-31: 119k2021-02-28: 119k2021-03-31: 119k2021-04-30: 120k2021-05-31: 121k2021-06-30: 121k2021-07-31: 122k2021-08-31: 122k2021-09-30: 123k2021-10-31: 123k2021-11-30: 124k2021-12-31: 124k2022-01-31: 123k2022-02-28: 124k2022-03-31: 124k2022-04-30: 124k2022-05-31: 125k2022-06-30: 125k2022-07-31: 126k2022-08-31: 126k2022-09-30: 127k2022-10-31: 127k2022-11-30: 128k2022-12-31: 127k2023-01-31: 127k2023-02-28: 127k2023-03-31: 127k2023-04-30: 128k2023-05-31: 128k2023-06-30: 129k2023-07-31: 129k2023-08-31: 129k2023-09-30: 130k2023-10-31: 130k2023-11-30: 131k2023-12-31: 130k2024-01-31: 130k2024-02-29: 130k2024-03-31: 130k2024-04-30: 130k2024-05-31: 131k2024-06-30: 131k2024-07-31: 132k2024-08-31: 131k2024-09-30: 132k2024-10-31: 132k2024-11-30: 132k2024-12-31: 132k2025-01-31: 131k2025-02-28: 131k2025-03-31: 131k2025-04-30: 131k2025-05-31: 131k2025-06-30: 132k2025-07-31: 132k2025-08-31: 132k2025-09-30: 132k2025-10-31: 132k2025-11-30: 132k2025-12-31: 132k2026-01-31: 131k2026-02-28: 130k2026-03-31: 131k2026-04-30: 131k2026-05-31: 131k2026-06-30: 132k2026-07-31: 132k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 119k to 132k · axis starts at 117k

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
9,060
5,7737,6689,5622010-03-31: 6,2352011-03-31: 6,1402012-03-31: 6,4252013-03-31: 6,4802014-03-31: 6,8652015-03-31: 7,4852016-03-31: 7,9802017-03-31: 8,4252018-03-31: 8,4102019-03-31: 8,5152020-03-31: 8,8852021-03-31: 9,1952022-03-31: 8,9802023-03-31: 8,8152024-03-31: 8,9152025-03-31: 9,060 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 6,140 to 9,195 · axis starts at 5,773

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

7,310
4,3326,0527,7732010-03-31: 4,7452011-03-31: 4,6652012-03-31: 4,9002013-03-31: 4,9052014-03-31: 5,2252015-03-31: 5,7652016-03-31: 6,3302017-03-31: 6,7202018-03-31: 6,6652019-03-31: 6,8152020-03-31: 7,1552021-03-31: 7,4402022-03-31: 7,2652023-03-31: 7,0352024-03-31: 7,1602025-03-31: 7,310 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,665 to 7,440 · axis starts at 4,332

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

445
3524204882010-03-31: 3902011-03-31: 3652012-03-31: 4002013-03-31: 4252014-03-31: 4352015-03-31: 4652016-03-31: 4452017-03-31: 4452018-03-31: 4752019-03-31: 4502020-03-31: 4452021-03-31: 4602022-03-31: 4502023-03-31: 4752024-03-31: 4552025-03-31: 445 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 365 to 475 · axis starts at 352

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

50
27.64052.42010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 452015-03-31: 502016-03-31: 502017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 502019-03-31: 452020-03-31: 502021-03-31: 502022-03-31: 502023-03-31: 502024-03-31: 452025-03-31: 50 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 50 · axis starts at 27.6

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

5
4.555.52010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 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: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · unchanged at 5 · axis starts at 4.5

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

250
1602102602010-03-31: 1802011-03-31: 1702012-03-31: 1902013-03-31: 1952014-03-31: 2052015-03-31: 2002016-03-31: 2052017-03-31: 2052018-03-31: 2052019-03-31: 2052020-03-31: 2052021-03-31: 2152022-03-31: 2252023-03-31: 2402024-03-31: 2452025-03-31: 250 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 170 to 250 · axis starts at 160

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

20
8.217.526.82010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 20 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

895
8068809542010-03-31: 8202011-03-31: 8202012-03-31: 8202013-03-31: 8202014-03-31: 8652015-03-31: 9152016-03-31: 8602017-03-31: 9052018-03-31: 9152019-03-31: 9002020-03-31: 9352021-03-31: 9402022-03-31: 9002023-03-31: 9252024-03-31: 9052025-03-31: 895 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 820 to 940 · axis starts at 806

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

75
52.66577.42010-03-31: 552011-03-31: 652012-03-31: 652013-03-31: 702014-03-31: 652015-03-31: 702016-03-31: 652017-03-31: 652018-03-31: 702019-03-31: 702020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 602022-03-31: 652023-03-31: 652024-03-31: 702025-03-31: 75 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 55 to 75 · axis starts at 52.6

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

10
05.611.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 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: 52025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 10

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

10,570
7,3689,24011k2010-03-31: 7,9502011-03-31: 7,7302012-03-31: 8,0552013-03-31: 8,0602014-03-31: 8,4152015-03-31: 9,0252016-03-31: 9,4802017-03-31: 9,9702018-03-31: 9,9852019-03-31: 10k2020-03-31: 10k2021-03-31: 11k2022-03-31: 11k2023-03-31: 10k2024-03-31: 11k2025-03-31: 11k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 7,730 to 11k · axis starts at 7,368

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

7,657
1,9815,1238,2651998-12-31: 2,5891999-12-31: 2,6572000-12-31: 2,6922001-12-31: 2,8232002-12-31: 2,9792003-12-31: 3,1752004-12-31: 3,3482005-12-31: 3,5782006-12-31: 3,7462007-12-31: 3,8992008-12-31: 4,1542009-12-31: 4,0472010-12-31: 4,1662011-12-31: 4,2702012-12-31: 4,4722013-12-31: 4,6222014-12-31: 4,7252015-12-31: 4,8522016-12-31: 5,0532017-12-31: 5,3462018-12-31: 5,4902019-12-31: 5,8892020-12-31: 5,9772021-12-31: 5,9662022-12-31: 6,7602023-12-31: 7,657 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 2,589 to 7,657 · axis starts at 1,981

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Medway

Medway