The Datum Report

Local area

Scottish Borders

What we think is happening

Pay in Scottish Borders has been growing.

improving · established confidence · formed 5 October 2026 · how we reached this

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in Scottish Borders has been going both ways.

tentative 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
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 26.0% +3.3 in the top 4% of 165

Moving with the rest of the country

Shown separately because these say something about the country rather than about Scottish Borders.

By subject

Every figure published for Scottish Borders. 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
12.5%
10.314.017.82020-03-31: 14.62020-06-30: 14.02020-09-30: 14.72020-12-31: 16.02021-03-31: 14.52021-06-30: 16.32021-09-30: 15.12021-12-31: 13.92022-03-31: 13.72022-06-30: 13.52022-09-30: 15.42022-12-31: 15.32023-03-31: 16.22023-06-30: 17.12023-09-30: 16.62023-12-31: 15.62024-03-31: 12.32024-06-30: 13.62024-09-30: 13.22024-12-31: 13.32025-03-31: 13.62025-06-30: 11.02025-09-30: 12.42025-12-31: 12.72026-03-31: 12.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 11.0 to 17.1 · axis starts at 10.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.8, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
78.6%
67.073.980.72020-03-31: 74.92020-06-30: 76.62020-09-30: 78.82020-12-31: 79.42021-03-31: 74.12021-06-30: 72.82021-09-30: 70.82021-12-31: 68.32022-03-31: 73.22022-06-30: 74.32022-09-30: 76.82022-12-31: 79.42023-03-31: 78.12023-06-30: 76.32023-09-30: 77.12023-12-31: 74.72024-03-31: 72.22024-06-30: 74.92024-09-30: 73.22024-12-31: 74.52025-03-31: 77.52025-06-30: 75.92025-09-30: 76.52025-12-31: 792026-03-31: 78.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 68.3 to 79.4 · axis starts at 67.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.7, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
2.1%
0.04.89.52020-03-31: 3.02020-06-30: 1.52020-09-30: 1.12020-12-31: 0.92021-03-31: 3.42021-06-30: 3.82021-09-30: 3.92021-12-31: 7.82022-03-31: 6.52022-06-30: 8.22022-09-30: 8.62022-12-31: 6.42023-03-31: 5.72023-06-30: 4.72023-09-30: 4.72023-12-31: 5.02024-03-31: 7.32024-06-30: 6.32024-09-30: 6.02024-12-31: 3.82025-03-31: 2.42025-06-30: 2.32025-09-30: 2.32025-12-31: 2.22026-03-31: 2.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 0.9 to 8.6 · axis starts at 0.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026

19.7%
13.920.827.72020-03-31: 22.82020-06-30: 22.42020-09-30: 20.32020-12-31: 19.92021-03-31: 23.32021-06-30: 24.42021-09-30: 26.32021-12-31: 25.92022-03-31: 21.82022-06-30: 19.02022-09-30: 16.02022-12-31: 15.22023-03-31: 17.22023-06-30: 19.92023-09-30: 19.12023-12-31: 21.22024-03-31: 22.12024-06-30: 19.92024-09-30: 22.12024-12-31: 22.62025-03-31: 20.52025-06-30: 22.42025-09-30: 21.72025-12-31: 19.22026-03-31: 19.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.2 to 26.3 · axis starts at 13.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.6, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
1,930
1,5222,8024,0832020-01-31: 1,8352020-02-29: 1,8602020-03-31: 1,9002020-04-30: 3,3252020-05-31: 3,7352020-06-30: 3,6102020-07-31: 3,8352020-08-31: 3,8302020-09-30: 3,6402020-10-31: 3,4502020-11-30: 3,4852020-12-31: 3,4852021-01-31: 3,5002021-02-28: 3,6452021-03-31: 3,6302021-04-30: 3,5852021-05-31: 3,3202021-06-30: 3,0752021-07-31: 2,9802021-08-31: 2,8302021-09-30: 2,6552021-10-31: 2,5102021-11-30: 2,4152021-12-31: 2,3652022-01-31: 2,3652022-02-28: 2,3202022-03-31: 2,2252022-04-30: 2,1302022-05-31: 2,0252022-06-30: 1,9802022-07-31: 1,9702022-08-31: 1,9752022-09-30: 1,9552022-10-31: 1,9152022-11-30: 2,0052022-12-31: 2,0102023-01-31: 2,0502023-02-28: 2,0202023-03-31: 2,0452023-04-30: 2,0852023-05-31: 2,0402023-06-30: 2,0202023-07-31: 2,0002023-08-31: 1,9852023-09-30: 1,8902023-10-31: 1,9252023-11-30: 1,9202023-12-31: 1,9202024-01-31: 1,9452024-02-29: 2,0802024-03-31: 2,0852024-04-30: 2,0452024-05-31: 2,0552024-06-30: 2,0702024-07-31: 2,1902024-08-31: 2,1902024-09-30: 2,1002024-10-31: 2,0552024-11-30: 2,0452024-12-31: 1,9852025-01-31: 2,0452025-02-28: 2,1102025-03-31: 2,0452025-04-30: 1,9952025-05-31: 1,9152025-06-30: 1,8952025-07-31: 1,8952025-08-31: 1,8852025-09-30: 1,8152025-10-31: 1,7702025-11-30: 1,8152025-12-31: 1,8152026-01-31: 1,9152026-02-28: 1,9352026-03-31: 1,9752026-04-30: 1,9552026-05-31: 1,8902026-06-30: 1,8752026-07-31: 1,8902026-08-31: 1,930 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 1,770 to 3,835 · axis starts at 1,522

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

2.9%
2.82.82.92026-01-31: 2.82026-02-28: 2.92026-03-31: 2.92026-04-30: 2.92026-05-31: 2.82026-06-30: 2.82026-07-31: 2.82026-08-31: 2.9 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.8 to 2.9 · axis starts at 2.8

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.

24.7%
18.928.337.62020-03-31: 28.42020-06-30: 27.32020-09-30: 25.22020-12-31: 24.22021-03-31: 31.22021-06-30: 26.72021-09-30: 29.32021-12-31: 28.72022-03-31: 24.72022-06-30: 30.52022-09-30: 29.02022-12-31: 23.82023-03-31: 21.92023-06-30: 22.72023-09-30: 22.02023-12-31: 22.12024-03-31: 35.82024-06-30: 34.82024-09-30: 322024-12-31: 32.32025-03-31: 28.12025-06-30: 23.32025-09-30: 20.72025-12-31: 22.62026-03-31: 24.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 20.7 to 35.8 · axis starts at 18.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±11.4, basis not documented by the producer

19.0%
4.815.626.42020-03-31: 16.82020-06-30: 202020-09-30: 21.52020-12-31: 17.42021-03-31: 14.32021-06-30: 16.82021-09-30: 16.12021-12-31: 16.42022-03-31: 16.42022-06-30: 10.22022-09-30: 8.42022-12-31: 6.92023-03-31: 14.92023-06-30: 20.52023-09-30: 22.82023-12-31: 24.32024-03-31: 23.02024-06-30: 17.82024-09-30: 16.72024-12-31: 16.82025-03-31: 17.32025-06-30: 15.32025-09-30: 15.92025-12-31: 17.72026-03-31: 19 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.9 to 24.3 · axis starts at 4.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026

26.0%
10.420.029.62020-03-31: 16.12020-06-30: 16.72020-09-30: 15.62020-12-31: 19.72021-03-31: 16.92021-06-30: 17.42021-09-30: 13.82021-12-31: 12.32022-03-31: 17.82022-06-30: 19.52022-09-30: 25.22022-12-31: 27.72023-03-31: 21.12023-06-30: 18.92023-09-30: 18.12023-12-31: 17.12024-03-31: 19.62024-06-30: 23.02024-09-30: 22.72024-12-31: 21.92025-03-31: 18.02025-06-30: 19.32025-09-30: 202025-12-31: 22.72026-03-31: 26 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 12.3 to 27.7 · axis starts at 10.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±11.6, basis not documented by the producer

18.8%
12.421.731.02020-03-31: 27.12020-06-30: 25.32020-09-30: 25.22020-12-31: 22.72021-03-31: 25.32021-06-30: 27.32021-09-30: 28.22021-12-31: 29.22022-03-31: 25.32022-06-30: 22.72022-09-30: 20.62022-12-31: 26.72023-03-31: 27.22023-06-30: 25.82023-09-30: 26.02023-12-31: 26.42024-03-31: 14.22024-06-30: 14.82024-09-30: 17.32024-12-31: 16.82025-03-31: 23.02025-06-30: 242025-09-30: 25.52025-12-31: 21.82026-03-31: 18.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.2 to 29.2 · axis starts at 12.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±10.3, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£25,427
7,47817k27k1997-12-31: 9,4011998-12-31: 9,7971999-12-31: 9,9562000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 13k2005-12-31: 14k2006-12-31: 14k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 15k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 16k2011-12-31: 16k2012-12-31: 16k2013-12-31: 17k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 18k2016-12-31: 18k2017-12-31: 19k2018-12-31: 19k2019-12-31: 20k2020-12-31: 20k2021-12-31: 20k2022-12-31: 22k2023-12-31: 23k2024-12-31: 25k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,401 to 25k · axis starts at 7,478

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,501
1,5702,0862,6012020-01-31: 1,6992020-02-29: 1,7002020-03-31: 1,7002020-04-30: 1,6702020-05-31: 1,6772020-06-30: 1,7022020-07-31: 1,7372020-08-31: 1,7512020-09-30: 1,7632020-10-31: 1,7782020-11-30: 1,7892020-12-31: 1,8252021-01-31: 1,7862021-02-28: 1,8162021-03-31: 1,8152021-04-30: 1,8482021-05-31: 1,8432021-06-30: 1,8342021-07-31: 1,8472021-08-31: 1,8482021-09-30: 1,8682021-10-31: 1,8722021-11-30: 1,8712021-12-31: 1,9092022-01-31: 1,9352022-02-28: 1,8882022-03-31: 1,9142022-04-30: 1,9342022-05-31: 1,9342022-06-30: 1,9402022-07-31: 1,9522022-08-31: 1,9452022-09-30: 1,9572022-10-31: 1,9782022-11-30: 2,0962022-12-31: 2,0562023-01-31: 2,0392023-02-28: 2,0862023-03-31: 2,0662023-04-30: 2,1142023-05-31: 2,1092023-06-30: 2,1102023-07-31: 2,1102023-08-31: 2,1082023-09-30: 2,1262023-10-31: 2,1342023-11-30: 2,2342023-12-31: 2,1982024-01-31: 2,1672024-02-29: 2,1652024-03-31: 2,1912024-04-30: 2,2302024-05-31: 2,2462024-06-30: 2,2402024-07-31: 2,2412024-08-31: 2,2492024-09-30: 2,2612024-10-31: 2,2782024-11-30: 2,3922024-12-31: 2,3292025-01-31: 2,3002025-02-28: 2,3072025-03-31: 2,3182025-04-30: 2,3572025-05-31: 2,3582025-06-30: 2,3532025-07-31: 2,3752025-08-31: 2,4062025-09-30: 2,3952025-10-31: 2,4032025-11-30: 2,3992025-12-31: 2,4402026-01-31: 2,4032026-02-28: 2,4002026-03-31: 2,4232026-04-30: 2,4842026-05-31: 2,4822026-06-30: 2,4922026-07-31: 2,501 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,670 to 2,501 · axis starts at 1,570

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.

47,527
45k47k49k2020-01-31: 47k2020-02-29: 47k2020-03-31: 47k2020-04-30: 46k2020-05-31: 46k2020-06-30: 46k2020-07-31: 46k2020-08-31: 46k2020-09-30: 46k2020-10-31: 46k2020-11-30: 46k2020-12-31: 45k2021-01-31: 45k2021-02-28: 45k2021-03-31: 46k2021-04-30: 46k2021-05-31: 46k2021-06-30: 47k2021-07-31: 47k2021-08-31: 47k2021-09-30: 47k2021-10-31: 47k2021-11-30: 47k2021-12-31: 47k2022-01-31: 47k2022-02-28: 47k2022-03-31: 47k2022-04-30: 47k2022-05-31: 48k2022-06-30: 48k2022-07-31: 48k2022-08-31: 48k2022-09-30: 48k2022-10-31: 48k2022-11-30: 48k2022-12-31: 47k2023-01-31: 47k2023-02-28: 47k2023-03-31: 47k2023-04-30: 47k2023-05-31: 48k2023-06-30: 48k2023-07-31: 48k2023-08-31: 48k2023-09-30: 48k2023-10-31: 48k2023-11-30: 48k2023-12-31: 48k2024-01-31: 48k2024-02-29: 48k2024-03-31: 48k2024-04-30: 48k2024-05-31: 48k2024-06-30: 48k2024-07-31: 48k2024-08-31: 48k2024-09-30: 48k2024-10-31: 48k2024-11-30: 48k2024-12-31: 48k2025-01-31: 47k2025-02-28: 47k2025-03-31: 47k2025-04-30: 47k2025-05-31: 48k2025-06-30: 48k2025-07-31: 48k2025-08-31: 48k2025-09-30: 48k2025-10-31: 48k2025-11-30: 48k2025-12-31: 47k2026-01-31: 47k2026-02-28: 47k2026-03-31: 47k2026-04-30: 47k2026-05-31: 47k2026-06-30: 47k2026-07-31: 48k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 45k to 48k · axis starts at 45k

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
2026
5,000
4,5634,8325,1022010-03-31: 4,6152011-03-31: 4,6302012-03-31: 4,7302013-03-31: 4,6502014-03-31: 4,7752015-03-31: 5,0252016-03-31: 5,0402017-03-31: 5,0452018-03-31: 5,0102019-03-31: 5,0002020-03-31: 4,9802021-03-31: 4,9702022-03-31: 5,0502023-03-31: 5,0102024-03-31: 5,0052025-03-31: 4,9652026-03-31: 5,000 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 4,615 to 5,050 · axis starts at 4,563

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises, published 24 September 2026

3,775
3,3543,6183,8812010-03-31: 3,4052011-03-31: 3,4602012-03-31: 3,5052013-03-31: 3,4052014-03-31: 3,4952015-03-31: 3,7202016-03-31: 3,8152017-03-31: 3,7952018-03-31: 3,7602019-03-31: 3,7652020-03-31: 3,7602021-03-31: 3,7802022-03-31: 3,8302023-03-31: 3,7802024-03-31: 3,7652025-03-31: 3,7352026-03-31: 3,775 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 3,405 to 3,830 · axis starts at 3,354

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

330
2572983382010-03-31: 2652011-03-31: 2652012-03-31: 2802013-03-31: 2902014-03-31: 3002015-03-31: 3002016-03-31: 2802017-03-31: 2652018-03-31: 2852019-03-31: 3002020-03-31: 2952021-03-31: 2952022-03-31: 2952023-03-31: 3052024-03-31: 3102025-03-31: 3152026-03-31: 330 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 265 to 330 · axis starts at 257

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

15
13.82026.22010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 252017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 152026-03-31: 15 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 15 to 25 · axis starts at 13.8

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

0
02.85.62010-03-31: 02011-03-31: 02012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 02015-03-31: 02016-03-31: 02017-03-31: 02018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 02023-03-31: 02024-03-31: 02025-03-31: 02026-03-31: 0 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 0 to 5

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

115
1111321542010-03-31: 1202011-03-31: 1152012-03-31: 1302013-03-31: 1302014-03-31: 1352015-03-31: 1352016-03-31: 1402017-03-31: 1502018-03-31: 1402019-03-31: 1352020-03-31: 1252021-03-31: 1202022-03-31: 1252023-03-31: 1302024-03-31: 1252025-03-31: 1252026-03-31: 115 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 115 to 150 · axis starts at 111

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

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: 52026-03-31: 5 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · unchanged at 5 · axis starts at 4.5

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

715
7057588102010-03-31: 7602011-03-31: 7202012-03-31: 7452013-03-31: 7652014-03-31: 7802015-03-31: 8002016-03-31: 7402017-03-31: 7702018-03-31: 7602019-03-31: 7402020-03-31: 7252021-03-31: 7152022-03-31: 7452023-03-31: 7302024-03-31: 7452025-03-31: 7252026-03-31: 715 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 715 to 800 · axis starts at 705

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

35
23.83036.22010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 352016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 302018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 352021-03-31: 352022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 352024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 352026-03-31: 35 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 25 to 35 · axis starts at 23.8

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

5
02.85.62010-03-31: 02011-03-31: 02012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 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: 52026-03-31: 5 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 0 to 5

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

5,915
5,6255,8586,0902010-03-31: 5,7502011-03-31: 5,6752012-03-31: 5,7602013-03-31: 5,6702014-03-31: 5,7752015-03-31: 6,0352016-03-31: 6,0452017-03-31: 6,0352018-03-31: 6,0402019-03-31: 6,0252020-03-31: 5,9952021-03-31: 5,9802022-03-31: 6,0252023-03-31: 5,9602024-03-31: 5,9352025-03-31: 5,8952026-03-31: 5,915 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 5,670 to 6,045 · axis starts at 5,625

ONS, UK Business Counts - local units, published 24 September 2026

2,810
1,1322,0612,9901998-12-31: 1,3261999-12-31: 1,3122000-12-31: 1,3552001-12-31: 1,4092002-12-31: 1,4622003-12-31: 1,5182004-12-31: 1,5622005-12-31: 1,6042006-12-31: 1,7112007-12-31: 1,7382008-12-31: 1,8072009-12-31: 1,7692010-12-31: 1,7852011-12-31: 1,8432012-12-31: 1,8722013-12-31: 1,9632014-12-31: 2,1142015-12-31: 2,1532016-12-31: 2,1652017-12-31: 2,2842018-12-31: 2,3852019-12-31: 2,4412020-12-31: 2,3652021-12-31: 2,5312022-12-31: 2,6492023-12-31: 2,810 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 1,312 to 2,810 · axis starts at 1,132

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Scottish Borders

Scottish Borders