The Datum Report

Local area

Mid Kent

What we think is happening

The job market in Mid Kent has been weakening.

deteriorating · strong 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
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 25.2% -4.7 in the bottom 6% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for Mid Kent. 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
11.5%
6.511.215.92020-03-31: 11.62020-06-30: 9.92020-09-30: 8.92020-12-31: 8.42021-03-31: 8.02021-06-30: 8.42021-09-30: 7.92021-12-31: 7.42022-03-31: 9.92022-06-30: 11.02022-09-30: 12.52022-12-31: 12.32023-03-31: 12.62023-06-30: 11.12023-09-30: 10.52023-12-31: 13.02024-03-31: 11.62024-06-30: 12.12024-09-30: 13.02024-12-31: 15.02025-03-31: 13.82025-06-30: 14.42025-09-30: 12.42025-12-31: 10.42026-03-31: 11.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.4 to 15.0 · axis starts at 6.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.3, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
79.2%
67.176.084.92020-03-31: 83.12020-06-30: 80.82020-09-30: 80.02020-12-31: 80.02021-03-31: 79.52021-06-30: 78.12021-09-30: 78.62021-12-31: 78.42022-03-31: 75.92022-06-30: 79.32022-09-30: 80.22022-12-31: 79.72023-03-31: 76.42023-06-30: 72.52023-09-30: 68.82023-12-31: 71.42024-03-31: 73.02024-06-30: 74.52024-09-30: 74.12024-12-31: 78.02025-03-31: 78.22025-06-30: 76.12025-09-30: 81.42025-12-31: 77.62026-03-31: 79.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 68.8 to 83.1 · axis starts at 67.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.1, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
1.7%
0.84.58.22020-06-30: 3.22020-09-30: 3.62021-03-31: 4.72021-06-30: 7.12021-09-30: 6.52021-12-31: 7.52022-03-31: 7.42022-12-31: 4.12023-03-31: 6.62023-06-30: 6.42023-09-30: 6.22024-12-31: 3.42025-03-31: 3.12025-09-30: 2.32025-12-31: 1.52026-03-31: 1.7 2020-06 2026-03
16 monthly readings · 1.5 to 7.5 · axis starts at 0.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
9 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

19.4%
13.420.828.12020-03-31: 14.92020-06-30: 16.52020-09-30: 17.02020-12-31: 17.22021-03-31: 16.62021-06-30: 15.92021-09-30: 15.92021-12-31: 15.32022-03-31: 18.12022-06-30: 17.72022-09-30: 17.22022-12-31: 16.82023-03-31: 18.22023-06-30: 22.52023-09-30: 26.72023-12-31: 25.92024-03-31: 25.62024-06-30: 22.92024-09-30: 23.02024-12-31: 19.22025-03-31: 19.32025-06-30: 21.62025-09-30: 16.72025-12-31: 21.22026-03-31: 19.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.9 to 26.7 · axis starts at 13.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.0, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
6,495
3,5287,49211k2020-01-31: 4,2952020-02-29: 4,4402020-03-31: 4,4702020-04-30: 8,2702020-05-31: 11k2020-06-30: 9,9902020-07-31: 10k2020-08-31: 10k2020-09-30: 10k2020-10-31: 9,7502020-11-30: 9,8302020-12-31: 9,8052021-01-31: 9,6552021-02-28: 10k2021-03-31: 10k2021-04-30: 9,8402021-05-31: 9,1602021-06-30: 8,4202021-07-31: 8,2252021-08-31: 7,9802021-09-30: 7,7102021-10-31: 7,3402021-11-30: 7,1202021-12-31: 6,8452022-01-31: 6,7402022-02-28: 6,8002022-03-31: 6,4752022-04-30: 6,0702022-05-31: 5,7602022-06-30: 5,5702022-07-31: 5,3502022-08-31: 5,3352022-09-30: 5,2902022-10-31: 5,2702022-11-30: 5,3552022-12-31: 5,3502023-01-31: 5,4002023-02-28: 5,3802023-03-31: 5,5102023-04-30: 5,6752023-05-31: 5,4952023-06-30: 5,5652023-07-31: 5,5952023-08-31: 5,5402023-09-30: 5,6052023-10-31: 5,7302023-11-30: 5,7002023-12-31: 5,7252024-01-31: 5,7802024-02-29: 6,0052024-03-31: 6,0702024-04-30: 6,0052024-05-31: 6,0002024-06-30: 5,9852024-07-31: 6,4652024-08-31: 6,3002024-09-30: 6,4102024-10-31: 6,4152024-11-30: 6,1902024-12-31: 6,2202025-01-31: 6,1252025-02-28: 6,3352025-03-31: 6,3202025-04-30: 6,1852025-05-31: 6,1902025-06-30: 6,2252025-07-31: 6,1052025-08-31: 6,0602025-09-30: 6,2402025-10-31: 6,2302025-11-30: 6,1752025-12-31: 6,1802026-01-31: 6,2152026-02-28: 6,4802026-03-31: 6,4902026-04-30: 6,3952026-05-31: 6,3552026-06-30: 6,3852026-07-31: 6,4102026-08-31: 6,495 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 4,295 to 11k · axis starts at 3,528

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

3.2%
3.13.23.22026-01-31: 3.12026-02-28: 3.22026-03-31: 3.22026-04-30: 3.22026-05-31: 3.22026-06-30: 3.22026-07-31: 3.22026-08-31: 3.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.1 to 3.2 · axis starts at 3.1

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%
14.424.735.02020-03-31: 16.42020-06-30: 21.72020-09-30: 23.22020-12-31: 19.52021-12-31: 31.62022-03-31: 29.72022-09-30: 33.02022-12-31: 23.12023-03-31: 30.42023-06-30: 29.32023-09-30: 27.72023-12-31: 31.72024-03-31: 27.02024-06-30: 27.62024-09-30: 29.72024-12-31: 25.72025-03-31: 28.92025-06-30: 31.62025-09-30: 28.72025-12-31: 29.92026-03-31: 25.2 2020-03 2026-03
21 monthly readings · 16.4 to 33.0 · axis starts at 14.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±10.2, basis not documented by the producer
4 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

18.1%
12.320.228.12020-03-31: 26.52020-06-30: 24.72020-12-31: 26.52021-03-31: 21.22024-03-31: 18.32024-06-30: 19.02024-09-30: 13.82024-12-31: 16.32025-03-31: 20.12025-06-30: 20.62025-09-30: 19.82025-12-31: 16.72026-03-31: 18.1 2020-03 2026-03
13 monthly readings · 13.8 to 26.5 · axis starts at 12.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.0, basis not documented by the producer
12 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

15.9%
10.016.723.52020-03-31: 162020-09-30: 17.12020-12-31: 16.32021-03-31: 20.92021-06-30: 22.12021-09-30: 18.12021-12-31: 18.92022-03-31: 13.52022-06-30: 12.82022-09-30: 13.52022-12-31: 14.02023-03-31: 13.42023-06-30: 12.22023-09-30: 11.32023-12-31: 14.72024-03-31: 16.22024-06-30: 17.12024-09-30: 17.32024-12-31: 19.42025-03-31: 18.42025-06-30: 19.32025-09-30: 21.82025-12-31: 17.32026-03-31: 15.9 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 11.3 to 22.1 · axis starts at 10.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.6, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

28.3%
9.523.637.82022-03-31: 20.52022-06-30: 22.42022-09-30: 29.52022-12-31: 35.12023-03-31: 25.32023-06-30: 27.62023-09-30: 22.52023-12-31: 21.42024-03-31: 24.32024-06-30: 23.82024-09-30: 21.52024-12-31: 182025-03-31: 19.52025-06-30: 12.22025-09-30: 16.52025-12-31: 25.92026-03-31: 28.3 2022-03 2026-03
17 monthly readings · 12.2 to 35.1 · axis starts at 9.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±10.6, basis not documented by the producer
8 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£27,174
11k20k29k1997-12-31: 13k1998-12-31: 13k1999-12-31: 13k2000-12-31: 14k2001-12-31: 14k2002-12-31: 14k2003-12-31: 15k2004-12-31: 15k2005-12-31: 16k2006-12-31: 16k2007-12-31: 17k2008-12-31: 17k2009-12-31: 18k2010-12-31: 18k2011-12-31: 18k2012-12-31: 18k2013-12-31: 19k2014-12-31: 19k2015-12-31: 20k2016-12-31: 20k2017-12-31: 21k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 22k2020-12-31: 22k2021-12-31: 23k2022-12-31: 24k2023-12-31: 26k2024-12-31: 27k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 13k to 27k · axis starts at 11k

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,693
1,7372,2662,7952020-01-31: 1,8752020-02-29: 1,8762020-03-31: 1,8822020-04-30: 1,8392020-05-31: 1,8482020-06-30: 1,8662020-07-31: 1,8962020-08-31: 1,9392020-09-30: 1,9432020-10-31: 1,9472020-11-30: 1,9562020-12-31: 1,9792021-01-31: 1,9592021-02-28: 1,9742021-03-31: 2,0112021-04-30: 2,0192021-05-31: 2,0292021-06-30: 2,0442021-07-31: 2,0422021-08-31: 2,0512021-09-30: 2,0722021-10-31: 2,0632021-11-30: 2,0782021-12-31: 2,1142022-01-31: 2,1022022-02-28: 2,0962022-03-31: 2,1192022-04-30: 2,1312022-05-31: 2,1562022-06-30: 2,1642022-07-31: 2,1562022-08-31: 2,1792022-09-30: 2,2182022-10-31: 2,2032022-11-30: 2,2162022-12-31: 2,2392023-01-31: 2,2322023-02-28: 2,2342023-03-31: 2,2592023-04-30: 2,2832023-05-31: 2,3292023-06-30: 2,3682023-07-31: 2,3072023-08-31: 2,3212023-09-30: 2,3332023-10-31: 2,3332023-11-30: 2,3462023-12-31: 2,3682024-01-31: 2,3662024-02-29: 2,3702024-03-31: 2,4032024-04-30: 2,4282024-05-31: 2,4462024-06-30: 2,4282024-07-31: 2,4392024-08-31: 2,4532024-09-30: 2,4572024-10-31: 2,5022024-11-30: 2,4812024-12-31: 2,5072025-01-31: 2,4872025-02-28: 2,4762025-03-31: 2,5232025-04-30: 2,5682025-05-31: 2,5712025-06-30: 2,5552025-07-31: 2,5822025-08-31: 2,5802025-09-30: 2,5712025-10-31: 2,5772025-11-30: 2,5782025-12-31: 2,6102026-01-31: 2,5952026-02-28: 2,6002026-03-31: 2,6262026-04-30: 2,6712026-05-31: 2,6822026-06-30: 2,6792026-07-31: 2,693 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,839 to 2,693 · axis starts at 1,737

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.

150,402
130k141k153k2020-01-31: 135k2020-02-29: 135k2020-03-31: 135k2020-04-30: 134k2020-05-31: 134k2020-06-30: 135k2020-07-31: 135k2020-08-31: 135k2020-09-30: 135k2020-10-31: 134k2020-11-30: 134k2020-12-31: 133k2021-01-31: 132k2021-02-28: 132k2021-03-31: 133k2021-04-30: 134k2021-05-31: 136k2021-06-30: 138k2021-07-31: 139k2021-08-31: 140k2021-09-30: 140k2021-10-31: 140k2021-11-30: 140k2021-12-31: 140k2022-01-31: 139k2022-02-28: 140k2022-03-31: 140k2022-04-30: 141k2022-05-31: 142k2022-06-30: 143k2022-07-31: 144k2022-08-31: 145k2022-09-30: 145k2022-10-31: 145k2022-11-30: 145k2022-12-31: 144k2023-01-31: 143k2023-02-28: 144k2023-03-31: 144k2023-04-30: 145k2023-05-31: 146k2023-06-30: 147k2023-07-31: 148k2023-08-31: 148k2023-09-30: 148k2023-10-31: 148k2023-11-30: 148k2023-12-31: 147k2024-01-31: 146k2024-02-29: 146k2024-03-31: 146k2024-04-30: 146k2024-05-31: 147k2024-06-30: 148k2024-07-31: 149k2024-08-31: 149k2024-09-30: 149k2024-10-31: 149k2024-11-30: 148k2024-12-31: 148k2025-01-31: 147k2025-02-28: 147k2025-03-31: 147k2025-04-30: 147k2025-05-31: 148k2025-06-30: 150k2025-07-31: 150k2025-08-31: 150k2025-09-30: 150k2025-10-31: 149k2025-11-30: 149k2025-12-31: 148k2026-01-31: 147k2026-02-28: 147k2026-03-31: 147k2026-04-30: 148k2026-05-31: 148k2026-06-30: 150k2026-07-31: 150k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 132k to 150k · axis starts at 130k

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
14,595
11k13k15k2010-03-31: 11k2011-03-31: 11k2012-03-31: 11k2013-03-31: 11k2014-03-31: 12k2015-03-31: 12k2016-03-31: 13k2017-03-31: 13k2018-03-31: 14k2019-03-31: 14k2020-03-31: 14k2021-03-31: 15k2022-03-31: 15k2023-03-31: 14k2024-03-31: 14k2025-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 11k to 15k · axis starts at 11k

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

11,730
8,18810k12k2010-03-31: 8,6452011-03-31: 8,5952012-03-31: 8,6802013-03-31: 8,7402014-03-31: 8,9602015-03-31: 9,4902016-03-31: 10k2017-03-31: 10k2018-03-31: 11k2019-03-31: 11k2020-03-31: 11k2021-03-31: 12k2022-03-31: 12k2023-03-31: 11k2024-03-31: 12k2025-03-31: 12k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 8,595 to 12k · axis starts at 8,188

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

745
6036927822010-03-31: 6352011-03-31: 6202012-03-31: 6402013-03-31: 6552014-03-31: 6852015-03-31: 7252016-03-31: 7152017-03-31: 6902018-03-31: 7202019-03-31: 7252020-03-31: 7452021-03-31: 7352022-03-31: 7452023-03-31: 7652024-03-31: 7602025-03-31: 745 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 620 to 765 · axis starts at 603

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

70
45.867.589.22010-03-31: 502011-03-31: 602012-03-31: 552013-03-31: 602014-03-31: 602015-03-31: 602016-03-31: 652017-03-31: 752018-03-31: 752019-03-31: 802020-03-31: 852021-03-31: 752022-03-31: 802023-03-31: 852024-03-31: 702025-03-31: 70 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 50 to 85 · axis starts at 45.8

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

15
3.81016.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 15 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

370
2853353852010-03-31: 3052011-03-31: 2952012-03-31: 2952013-03-31: 3452014-03-31: 3502015-03-31: 3452016-03-31: 3552017-03-31: 3752018-03-31: 3602019-03-31: 3502020-03-31: 3552021-03-31: 3452022-03-31: 3502023-03-31: 3652024-03-31: 3752025-03-31: 370 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 295 to 375 · axis starts at 285

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

20
13.82026.22010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 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

1,510
1,3181,4301,5422010-03-31: 1,4002011-03-31: 1,3402012-03-31: 1,4002013-03-31: 1,3602014-03-31: 1,4202015-03-31: 1,4952016-03-31: 1,5202017-03-31: 1,4652018-03-31: 1,4902019-03-31: 1,5152020-03-31: 1,4352021-03-31: 1,4502022-03-31: 1,4902023-03-31: 1,5202024-03-31: 1,4702025-03-31: 1,510 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,340 to 1,520 · axis starts at 1,318

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

125
91.41101292010-03-31: 952011-03-31: 1002012-03-31: 1102013-03-31: 1052014-03-31: 1202015-03-31: 1202016-03-31: 1202017-03-31: 1252018-03-31: 1202019-03-31: 1202020-03-31: 1202021-03-31: 1152022-03-31: 1152023-03-31: 1202024-03-31: 1252025-03-31: 125 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 95 to 125 · axis starts at 91.4

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

10
3.81016.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 10 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

16,640
13k15k17k2010-03-31: 13k2011-03-31: 13k2012-03-31: 13k2013-03-31: 13k2014-03-31: 14k2015-03-31: 14k2016-03-31: 15k2017-03-31: 15k2018-03-31: 16k2019-03-31: 16k2020-03-31: 16k2021-03-31: 17k2022-03-31: 17k2023-03-31: 16k2024-03-31: 17k2025-03-31: 17k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 13k to 17k · axis starts at 13k

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

9,489
2,8146,50910k1998-12-31: 3,5291999-12-31: 3,6402000-12-31: 3,7472001-12-31: 3,9162002-12-31: 4,0972003-12-31: 4,3172004-12-31: 4,5362005-12-31: 4,7862006-12-31: 4,9922007-12-31: 5,2362008-12-31: 5,5622009-12-31: 5,2872010-12-31: 5,4462011-12-31: 5,5812012-12-31: 5,6762013-12-31: 5,8292014-12-31: 6,1752015-12-31: 6,4582016-12-31: 6,6332017-12-31: 6,8402018-12-31: 7,1712019-12-31: 7,7392020-12-31: 7,6012021-12-31: 7,9112022-12-31: 8,6402023-12-31: 9,489 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 3,529 to 9,489 · axis starts at 2,814

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Mid Kent

Ashford · Maidstone