The Datum Report

Local area

Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton

What we think is happening

Pay in Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton has been growing.

improving · strong confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton has been getting stronger.

established confidence · 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
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 7.2% +1.6 in the top 5% of 169

Moving with the rest of the country

Shown separately because these say something about the country rather than about Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton.

By subject

Every figure published for Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton. 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
13.1%
9.912.314.72020-03-31: 14.02020-06-30: 14.22020-09-30: 13.92020-12-31: 13.22021-03-31: 13.12021-06-30: 12.52021-09-30: 13.32021-12-31: 12.62022-03-31: 12.62022-06-30: 13.52022-09-30: 11.62022-12-31: 12.22023-03-31: 11.72023-06-30: 10.32023-09-30: 10.72023-12-31: 11.52024-03-31: 12.52024-06-30: 12.32024-09-30: 12.72024-12-31: 11.32025-03-31: 11.92025-06-30: 13.62025-09-30: 14.32025-12-31: 142026-03-31: 13.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 10.3 to 14.3 · axis starts at 9.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.2, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
77.1%
76.079.282.42020-03-31: 79.12020-06-30: 79.52020-09-30: 78.32020-12-31: 78.02021-03-31: 78.42021-06-30: 76.72021-09-30: 78.22021-12-31: 79.22022-03-31: 79.32022-06-30: 79.82022-09-30: 79.72022-12-31: 81.82023-03-31: 81.02023-06-30: 80.82023-09-30: 79.52023-12-31: 77.92024-03-31: 78.52024-06-30: 78.32024-09-30: 79.92024-12-31: 79.52025-03-31: 80.02025-06-30: 79.32025-09-30: 78.82025-12-31: 782026-03-31: 77.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 76.7 to 81.8 · axis starts at 76.0

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

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
7.2%
2.35.07.72020-03-31: 5.12020-06-30: 5.12020-09-30: 5.62020-12-31: 5.72021-03-31: 5.42021-06-30: 5.82021-09-30: 5.02021-12-31: 4.42022-03-31: 4.12022-06-30: 3.12022-09-30: 2.82023-06-30: 3.52023-09-30: 4.32023-12-31: 5.52024-03-31: 6.52024-06-30: 4.42024-09-30: 3.12025-03-31: 3.12025-06-30: 3.82025-09-30: 4.62025-12-31: 5.62026-03-31: 7.2 2020-03 2026-03
22 monthly readings · 2.8 to 7.2 · axis starts at 2.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.9, basis not documented by the producer
3 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

16.9%
15.817.418.92020-03-31: 16.62020-06-30: 16.32020-09-30: 17.12020-12-31: 17.22021-03-31: 17.22021-06-30: 18.62021-09-30: 17.72021-12-31: 17.12022-03-31: 17.42022-06-30: 17.72022-09-30: 18.02022-12-31: 16.22023-03-31: 17.52023-06-30: 16.22023-09-30: 17.02023-12-31: 17.62024-03-31: 16.12024-06-30: 18.02024-09-30: 17.52024-12-31: 17.72025-03-31: 17.42025-06-30: 17.62025-09-30: 17.42025-12-31: 17.32026-03-31: 16.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.1 to 18.6 · axis starts at 15.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.5, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
15,145
7,08616k26k2020-01-31: 8,8752020-02-29: 9,1352020-03-31: 9,1052020-04-30: 15k2020-05-31: 23k2020-06-30: 22k2020-07-31: 23k2020-08-31: 24k2020-09-30: 24k2020-10-31: 23k2020-11-30: 23k2020-12-31: 23k2021-01-31: 23k2021-02-28: 24k2021-03-31: 24k2021-04-30: 23k2021-05-31: 22k2021-06-30: 19k2021-07-31: 19k2021-08-31: 18k2021-09-30: 17k2021-10-31: 16k2021-11-30: 15k2021-12-31: 15k2022-01-31: 14k2022-02-28: 14k2022-03-31: 13k2022-04-30: 13k2022-05-31: 12k2022-06-30: 12k2022-07-31: 12k2022-08-31: 12k2022-09-30: 12k2022-10-31: 12k2022-11-30: 12k2022-12-31: 12k2023-01-31: 12k2023-02-28: 12k2023-03-31: 12k2023-04-30: 13k2023-05-31: 12k2023-06-30: 13k2023-07-31: 13k2023-08-31: 13k2023-09-30: 13k2023-10-31: 13k2023-11-30: 13k2023-12-31: 13k2024-01-31: 13k2024-02-29: 13k2024-03-31: 13k2024-04-30: 13k2024-05-31: 14k2024-06-30: 14k2024-07-31: 15k2024-08-31: 15k2024-09-30: 15k2024-10-31: 15k2024-11-30: 15k2024-12-31: 15k2025-01-31: 15k2025-02-28: 16k2025-03-31: 15k2025-04-30: 15k2025-05-31: 15k2025-06-30: 16k2025-07-31: 15k2025-08-31: 15k2025-09-30: 15k2025-10-31: 15k2025-11-30: 15k2025-12-31: 15k2026-01-31: 15k2026-02-28: 15k2026-03-31: 15k2026-04-30: 15k2026-05-31: 15k2026-06-30: 15k2026-07-31: 15k2026-08-31: 15k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 8,875 to 24k · axis starts at 7,086

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

3.8%
3.73.83.82026-01-31: 3.72026-02-28: 3.82026-03-31: 3.82026-04-30: 3.72026-05-31: 3.82026-06-30: 3.82026-07-31: 3.72026-08-31: 3.8 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.7 to 3.8 · axis starts at 3.7

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.

12.6%
9.013.317.52020-03-31: 16.72020-06-30: 15.32020-09-30: 14.12020-12-31: 14.82021-03-31: 13.92021-06-30: 13.92021-09-30: 16.32021-12-31: 15.42022-03-31: 16.32022-06-30: 16.12022-09-30: 12.82023-03-31: 12.22025-03-31: 14.02025-06-30: 10.12025-09-30: 9.92025-12-31: 12.32026-03-31: 12.6 2020-03 2026-03
17 monthly readings · 9.9 to 16.7 · axis starts at 9.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.1, basis not documented by the producer
8 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

20.4%
14.123.031.92020-03-31: 30.22020-06-30: 27.92020-09-30: 25.42020-12-31: 24.12021-03-31: 23.62021-06-30: 24.02021-09-30: 23.32021-12-31: 23.62022-03-31: 26.62022-06-30: 27.22022-09-30: 26.32022-12-31: 29.92023-03-31: 25.32023-06-30: 27.42023-09-30: 26.82023-12-31: 29.72024-03-31: 26.62024-06-30: 22.12024-09-30: 20.42024-12-31: 16.22025-03-31: 18.72025-06-30: 15.92025-09-30: 202025-12-31: 21.52026-03-31: 20.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.9 to 30.2 · axis starts at 14.1

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

9.6%
4.712.319.92020-09-30: 11.12020-12-31: 10.62021-03-31: 10.22021-06-30: 8.92021-09-30: 6.22021-12-31: 7.22022-03-31: 7.92022-06-30: 7.92022-09-30: 13.02022-12-31: 14.12023-03-31: 15.52023-06-30: 18.42023-09-30: 11.82023-12-31: 14.12024-03-31: 16.02024-09-30: 13.32024-12-31: 9.02025-03-31: 8.32025-06-30: 10.22025-09-30: 11.42025-12-31: 11.12026-03-31: 9.6 2020-09 2026-03
22 monthly readings · 6.2 to 18.4 · axis starts at 4.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.5, basis not documented by the producer
3 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

33.0%
24.834.343.92020-03-31: 26.62020-06-30: 29.32020-09-30: 32.62020-12-31: 32.52021-03-31: 36.32021-06-30: 37.12021-09-30: 37.82021-12-31: 37.22022-03-31: 33.22022-06-30: 32.02022-09-30: 29.32022-12-31: 29.12023-03-31: 29.52023-06-30: 28.42023-09-30: 39.62023-12-31: 37.82024-03-31: 38.52024-06-30: 41.52024-09-30: 39.62024-12-31: 41.12025-03-31: 38.12025-06-30: 42.12025-09-30: 362025-12-31: 34.62026-03-31: 33 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 26.6 to 42.1 · axis starts at 24.8

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

Pay 3
£33,444
11k24k36k1997-12-31: 14k1998-12-31: 14k1999-12-31: 15k2000-12-31: 16k2001-12-31: 16k2002-12-31: 16k2003-12-31: 17k2004-12-31: 18k2005-12-31: 19k2006-12-31: 19k2007-12-31: 21k2008-12-31: 21k2009-12-31: 21k2010-12-31: 21k2011-12-31: 21k2012-12-31: 22k2013-12-31: 23k2014-12-31: 24k2015-12-31: 25k2016-12-31: 26k2017-12-31: 26k2018-12-31: 27k2019-12-31: 27k2020-12-31: 27k2021-12-31: 28k2022-12-31: 30k2023-12-31: 31k2024-12-31: 33k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 14k to 33k · axis starts at 11k

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£3,179
2,1442,7183,2912020-01-31: 2,3082020-02-29: 2,3162020-03-31: 2,3242020-04-30: 2,2552020-05-31: 2,2582020-06-30: 2,2832020-07-31: 2,3182020-08-31: 2,3542020-09-30: 2,3782020-10-31: 2,4062020-11-30: 2,4182020-12-31: 2,4452021-01-31: 2,4162021-02-28: 2,4282021-03-31: 2,4562021-04-30: 2,4682021-05-31: 2,4822021-06-30: 2,4942021-07-31: 2,4912021-08-31: 2,5032021-09-30: 2,5342021-10-31: 2,5372021-11-30: 2,5372021-12-31: 2,5702022-01-31: 2,5372022-02-28: 2,5532022-03-31: 2,6042022-04-30: 2,5902022-05-31: 2,6052022-06-30: 2,6172022-07-31: 2,6112022-08-31: 2,6372022-09-30: 2,7062022-10-31: 2,6832022-11-30: 2,7342022-12-31: 2,7662023-01-31: 2,7152023-02-28: 2,7152023-03-31: 2,7532023-04-30: 2,7502023-05-31: 2,7902023-06-30: 2,8502023-07-31: 2,7992023-08-31: 2,7982023-09-30: 2,8082023-10-31: 2,8192023-11-30: 2,8582023-12-31: 2,9302024-01-31: 2,8672024-02-29: 2,8632024-03-31: 2,8942024-04-30: 2,8972024-05-31: 2,9062024-06-30: 2,9052024-07-31: 2,9062024-08-31: 2,9182024-09-30: 2,9372024-10-31: 3,0122024-11-30: 3,0092024-12-31: 3,0122025-01-31: 2,9972025-02-28: 2,9932025-03-31: 3,0262025-04-30: 3,0342025-05-31: 3,0412025-06-30: 3,0352025-07-31: 3,0442025-08-31: 3,0862025-09-30: 3,0942025-10-31: 3,0872025-11-30: 3,0872025-12-31: 3,1332026-01-31: 3,0962026-02-28: 3,1072026-03-31: 3,1462026-04-30: 3,1672026-05-31: 3,1712026-06-30: 3,1802026-07-31: 3,179 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 2,255 to 3,180 · axis starts at 2,144

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.

287,641
261k277k293k2020-01-31: 276k2020-02-29: 276k2020-03-31: 277k2020-04-30: 273k2020-05-31: 271k2020-06-30: 271k2020-07-31: 271k2020-08-31: 269k2020-09-30: 267k2020-10-31: 267k2020-11-30: 267k2020-12-31: 266k2021-01-31: 265k2021-02-28: 264k2021-03-31: 264k2021-04-30: 266k2021-05-31: 268k2021-06-30: 270k2021-07-31: 272k2021-08-31: 271k2021-09-30: 273k2021-10-31: 273k2021-11-30: 274k2021-12-31: 275k2022-01-31: 274k2022-02-28: 275k2022-03-31: 276k2022-04-30: 275k2022-05-31: 277k2022-06-30: 278k2022-07-31: 280k2022-08-31: 278k2022-09-30: 280k2022-10-31: 280k2022-11-30: 282k2022-12-31: 282k2023-01-31: 281k2023-02-28: 281k2023-03-31: 282k2023-04-30: 283k2023-05-31: 283k2023-06-30: 285k2023-07-31: 286k2023-08-31: 284k2023-09-30: 285k2023-10-31: 285k2023-11-30: 287k2023-12-31: 287k2024-01-31: 285k2024-02-29: 285k2024-03-31: 285k2024-04-30: 286k2024-05-31: 288k2024-06-30: 288k2024-07-31: 290k2024-08-31: 287k2024-09-30: 288k2024-10-31: 288k2024-11-30: 289k2024-12-31: 289k2025-01-31: 287k2025-02-28: 287k2025-03-31: 287k2025-04-30: 287k2025-05-31: 287k2025-06-30: 288k2025-07-31: 289k2025-08-31: 287k2025-09-30: 287k2025-10-31: 287k2025-11-30: 288k2025-12-31: 288k2026-01-31: 286k2026-02-28: 285k2026-03-31: 286k2026-04-30: 286k2026-05-31: 287k2026-06-30: 287k2026-07-31: 288k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 264k to 290k · axis starts at 261k

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
27,575
18k24k30k2010-03-31: 19k2011-03-31: 20k2012-03-31: 21k2013-03-31: 21k2014-03-31: 23k2015-03-31: 25k2016-03-31: 27k2017-03-31: 28k2018-03-31: 28k2019-03-31: 29k2020-03-31: 29k2021-03-31: 29k2022-03-31: 28k2023-03-31: 28k2024-03-31: 28k2025-03-31: 28k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 19k to 29k · axis starts at 18k

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

23,265
15k20k26k2010-03-31: 16k2011-03-31: 16k2012-03-31: 17k2013-03-31: 17k2014-03-31: 19k2015-03-31: 21k2016-03-31: 23k2017-03-31: 24k2018-03-31: 24k2019-03-31: 25k2020-03-31: 25k2021-03-31: 25k2022-03-31: 24k2023-03-31: 23k2024-03-31: 23k2025-03-31: 23k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 16k to 25k · axis starts at 15k

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

1,090
9351,0401,1452010-03-31: 9552011-03-31: 9552012-03-31: 1,0102013-03-31: 1,0152014-03-31: 1,0302015-03-31: 1,1152016-03-31: 1,0752017-03-31: 1,0702018-03-31: 1,0802019-03-31: 1,0602020-03-31: 1,0452021-03-31: 1,0702022-03-31: 1,0802023-03-31: 1,1202024-03-31: 1,1252025-03-31: 1,090 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 955 to 1,125 · axis starts at 935

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

105
8297.51132010-03-31: 852011-03-31: 902012-03-31: 1002013-03-31: 1002014-03-31: 1002015-03-31: 1052016-03-31: 1052017-03-31: 1002018-03-31: 1102019-03-31: 1052020-03-31: 1002021-03-31: 952022-03-31: 1052023-03-31: 1052024-03-31: 1052025-03-31: 105 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 85 to 110 · axis starts at 82

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

25
19.422.525.62010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 252017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 252023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 25 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

615
4685556422010-03-31: 4902011-03-31: 4852012-03-31: 5052013-03-31: 5752014-03-31: 5852015-03-31: 6002016-03-31: 6152017-03-31: 6152018-03-31: 6202019-03-31: 6002020-03-31: 6052021-03-31: 5802022-03-31: 6002023-03-31: 5952024-03-31: 6252025-03-31: 615 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 485 to 625 · axis starts at 468

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

40
17.63042.42010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 302021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 352024-03-31: 352025-03-31: 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

2,245
1,8372,1352,4332010-03-31: 1,8952011-03-31: 1,9402012-03-31: 2,1552013-03-31: 2,1302014-03-31: 2,2652015-03-31: 2,3752016-03-31: 2,2152017-03-31: 2,2302018-03-31: 2,2502019-03-31: 2,2352020-03-31: 2,1702021-03-31: 2,2002022-03-31: 2,2652023-03-31: 2,2752024-03-31: 2,2152025-03-31: 2,245 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,895 to 2,375 · axis starts at 1,837

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

175
1541852162010-03-31: 1652011-03-31: 1602012-03-31: 1652013-03-31: 1902014-03-31: 1952015-03-31: 2102016-03-31: 2002017-03-31: 2002018-03-31: 1752019-03-31: 1752020-03-31: 2002021-03-31: 1902022-03-31: 1802023-03-31: 1752024-03-31: 1752025-03-31: 175 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 160 to 210 · axis starts at 154

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

15
9.412.515.62010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 15 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10 to 15 · axis starts at 9.4

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

30,840
22k28k34k2010-03-31: 23k2011-03-31: 23k2012-03-31: 24k2013-03-31: 25k2014-03-31: 26k2015-03-31: 29k2016-03-31: 30k2017-03-31: 32k2018-03-31: 32k2019-03-31: 32k2020-03-31: 32k2021-03-31: 32k2022-03-31: 32k2023-03-31: 31k2024-03-31: 31k2025-03-31: 31k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 23k to 32k · axis starts at 22k

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

17,079
7,08913k18k1998-12-31: 8,1591999-12-31: 8,6602000-12-31: 9,1182001-12-31: 9,3912002-12-31: 9,6242003-12-31: 10k2004-12-31: 11k2005-12-31: 11k2006-12-31: 12k2007-12-31: 12k2008-12-31: 13k2009-12-31: 12k2010-12-31: 12k2011-12-31: 12k2012-12-31: 12k2013-12-31: 13k2014-12-31: 14k2015-12-31: 14k2016-12-31: 15k2017-12-31: 15k2018-12-31: 15k2019-12-31: 15k2020-12-31: 13k2021-12-31: 14k2022-12-31: 15k2023-12-31: 17k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 8,159 to 17k · axis starts at 7,089

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Merton, Kingston upon Thames and Sutton

Kingston upon Thames · Merton · Sutton