The Datum Report

Local area

Somerset

What we think is happening

The job market in Somerset has been weakening.

deteriorating · 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 5 to 9 people 2025 2,715 -215 in the bottom 3% of 182

By subject

Every figure published for Somerset. 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
12.9%
8.411.314.32020-03-31: 12.62020-06-30: 11.62020-09-30: 10.62020-12-31: 10.02021-03-31: 9.02021-06-30: 9.62021-09-30: 9.72021-12-31: 10.72022-03-31: 10.22022-06-30: 10.82022-09-30: 11.62022-12-31: 11.22023-03-31: 11.92023-06-30: 11.92023-09-30: 12.12023-12-31: 12.22024-03-31: 11.62024-06-30: 11.52024-09-30: 11.32024-12-31: 11.02025-03-31: 12.42025-06-30: 11.62025-09-30: 12.32025-12-31: 13.72026-03-31: 12.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 9.0 to 13.7 · axis starts at 8.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.4, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
78.3%
74.678.181.62020-03-31: 79.32020-06-30: 79.42020-09-30: 77.82020-12-31: 77.32021-03-31: 76.72021-06-30: 75.32021-09-30: 75.92021-12-31: 76.52022-03-31: 76.92022-06-30: 76.72022-09-30: 76.12022-12-31: 77.82023-03-31: 77.62023-06-30: 79.22023-09-30: 79.32023-12-31: 78.92024-03-31: 80.92024-06-30: 80.12024-09-30: 79.92024-12-31: 79.42025-03-31: 78.62025-06-30: 78.02025-09-30: 79.22025-12-31: 77.22026-03-31: 78.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 75.3 to 80.9 · axis starts at 74.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.9, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
2.8%
1.83.14.42020-03-31: 2.52020-06-30: 3.12020-09-30: 3.82020-12-31: 3.22021-03-31: 3.92021-06-30: 3.82021-09-30: 3.22021-12-31: 3.02022-03-31: 2.62022-06-30: 3.02022-09-30: 3.02022-12-31: 3.12023-03-31: 4.12023-06-30: 3.42023-09-30: 2.52023-12-31: 2.72024-03-31: 2.02024-06-30: 2.42024-09-30: 2.82024-12-31: 3.12025-03-31: 2.92025-06-30: 3.52025-09-30: 3.22025-12-31: 3.32026-03-31: 2.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 2.0 to 4.1 · axis starts at 1.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.3, basis not documented by the producer

19.5%
16.819.522.32020-03-31: 18.72020-06-30: 18.12020-09-30: 19.12020-12-31: 20.12021-03-31: 20.22021-06-30: 21.72021-09-30: 21.62021-12-31: 21.12022-03-31: 21.12022-06-30: 21.02022-09-30: 21.52022-12-31: 19.82023-03-31: 19.12023-06-30: 18.02023-09-30: 18.62023-12-31: 19.02024-03-31: 17.32024-06-30: 17.92024-09-30: 17.82024-12-31: 18.12025-03-31: 19.02025-06-30: 19.12025-09-30: 18.22025-12-31: 20.22026-03-31: 19.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 17.3 to 21.7 · axis starts at 16.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.8, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
8,725
6,22212k18k2020-01-31: 7,3802020-02-29: 7,5352020-03-31: 7,3702020-04-30: 14k2020-05-31: 16k2020-06-30: 16k2020-07-31: 16k2020-08-31: 17k2020-09-30: 16k2020-10-31: 15k2020-11-30: 16k2020-12-31: 15k2021-01-31: 15k2021-02-28: 16k2021-03-31: 16k2021-04-30: 15k2021-05-31: 14k2021-06-30: 13k2021-07-31: 12k2021-08-31: 12k2021-09-30: 11k2021-10-31: 11k2021-11-30: 10k2021-12-31: 9,8302022-01-31: 9,7602022-02-28: 9,7002022-03-31: 9,2802022-04-30: 8,7202022-05-31: 8,3302022-06-30: 7,8902022-07-31: 7,7602022-08-31: 7,7952022-09-30: 7,6702022-10-31: 7,6902022-11-30: 7,8102022-12-31: 7,8602023-01-31: 7,8102023-02-28: 7,8552023-03-31: 8,0352023-04-30: 7,9902023-05-31: 7,7652023-06-30: 7,7602023-07-31: 7,7952023-08-31: 7,7252023-09-30: 7,8702023-10-31: 7,9952023-11-30: 8,2952023-12-31: 8,3002024-01-31: 8,4152024-02-29: 8,7502024-03-31: 8,7902024-04-30: 8,6702024-05-31: 8,5352024-06-30: 8,4952024-07-31: 8,9752024-08-31: 8,9402024-09-30: 8,8352024-10-31: 8,7352024-11-30: 8,5852024-12-31: 8,4952025-01-31: 8,4902025-02-28: 8,7052025-03-31: 8,6802025-04-30: 8,4552025-05-31: 8,2952025-06-30: 8,3452025-07-31: 8,3102025-08-31: 8,3102025-09-30: 8,2902025-10-31: 8,3952025-11-30: 8,4202025-12-31: 8,4502026-01-31: 8,7002026-02-28: 8,8252026-03-31: 8,9252026-04-30: 8,7602026-05-31: 8,6752026-06-30: 8,6202026-07-31: 8,5802026-08-31: 8,725 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 7,370 to 17k · axis starts at 6,222

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

2.6%
2.52.52.62026-01-31: 2.62026-02-28: 2.62026-03-31: 2.62026-04-30: 2.62026-05-31: 2.62026-06-30: 2.52026-07-31: 2.52026-08-31: 2.6 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.5 to 2.6 · axis starts at 2.5

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.

35.1%
17.727.337.02020-03-31: 27.12020-06-30: 25.32020-09-30: 23.42020-12-31: 22.82021-03-31: 21.92021-06-30: 26.52021-09-30: 25.92021-12-31: 27.52022-03-31: 25.72022-06-30: 23.52022-09-30: 22.92022-12-31: 19.62023-03-31: 23.12023-06-30: 22.72023-09-30: 25.12023-12-31: 26.52024-03-31: 26.42024-06-30: 30.42024-09-30: 30.32024-12-31: 26.92025-03-31: 25.42025-06-30: 23.72025-09-30: 27.32025-12-31: 32.12026-03-31: 35.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 19.6 to 35.1 · axis starts at 17.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.6, basis not documented by the producer

18.5%
12.217.422.52020-03-31: 20.42020-06-30: 16.42020-09-30: 15.02020-12-31: 15.12021-03-31: 13.22021-06-30: 16.32021-09-30: 16.82021-12-31: 18.32022-03-31: 21.52022-06-30: 20.72022-09-30: 21.12022-12-31: 21.02023-03-31: 16.42023-06-30: 17.52023-09-30: 18.92023-12-31: 17.12024-03-31: 17.72024-06-30: 16.32024-09-30: 15.52024-12-31: 14.72025-03-31: 16.12025-06-30: 16.92025-09-30: 15.82025-12-31: 182026-03-31: 18.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.2 to 21.5 · axis starts at 12.2

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

19.1%
10.218.226.32020-03-31: 16.32020-06-30: 19.02020-09-30: 23.12020-12-31: 22.32021-03-31: 24.72021-06-30: 22.02021-09-30: 19.52021-12-31: 19.02022-03-31: 15.42022-06-30: 16.52022-09-30: 19.12022-12-31: 22.62023-03-31: 22.42023-06-30: 24.32023-09-30: 17.42023-12-31: 13.32024-03-31: 13.62024-06-30: 11.72024-09-30: 15.22024-12-31: 16.62025-03-31: 20.22025-06-30: 23.52025-09-30: 24.22025-12-31: 20.12026-03-31: 19.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 11.7 to 24.7 · axis starts at 10.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.3, basis not documented by the producer

13.4%
11.023.435.82020-03-31: 17.02020-06-30: 17.12020-09-30: 18.32020-12-31: 18.22021-03-31: 18.42021-06-30: 17.12021-09-30: 17.32021-12-31: 18.52022-03-31: 19.72022-06-30: 22.52022-09-30: 20.92022-12-31: 20.32023-03-31: 24.72023-06-30: 24.52023-09-30: 28.42023-12-31: 33.42024-03-31: 26.92024-06-30: 23.42024-09-30: 19.92024-12-31: 21.42025-03-31: 20.72025-06-30: 18.72025-09-30: 19.92025-12-31: 16.72026-03-31: 13.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.4 to 33.4 · axis starts at 11.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.4, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£25,473
9,04118k27k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 11k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 12k2002-12-31: 12k2003-12-31: 13k2004-12-31: 13k2005-12-31: 14k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 16k2011-12-31: 16k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 17k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 18k2016-12-31: 18k2017-12-31: 19k2018-12-31: 19k2019-12-31: 20k2020-12-31: 20k2021-12-31: 21k2022-12-31: 22k2023-12-31: 24k2024-12-31: 25k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 25k · axis starts at 9,041

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,523
1,5532,0912,6292020-01-31: 1,6922020-02-29: 1,6962020-03-31: 1,6912020-04-30: 1,6572020-05-31: 1,6742020-06-30: 1,6912020-07-31: 1,7142020-08-31: 1,7472020-09-30: 1,7702020-10-31: 1,7672020-11-30: 1,7752020-12-31: 1,7952021-01-31: 1,7722021-02-28: 1,7752021-03-31: 1,7972021-04-30: 1,8172021-05-31: 1,8212021-06-30: 1,8292021-07-31: 1,8312021-08-31: 1,8392021-09-30: 1,8672021-10-31: 1,8702021-11-30: 1,8762021-12-31: 1,9072022-01-31: 1,8852022-02-28: 1,8892022-03-31: 1,9272022-04-30: 1,9372022-05-31: 1,9552022-06-30: 1,9592022-07-31: 1,9612022-08-31: 1,9792022-09-30: 2,0242022-10-31: 2,0112022-11-30: 2,0722022-12-31: 2,0482023-01-31: 2,0292023-02-28: 2,0322023-03-31: 2,0642023-04-30: 2,0872023-05-31: 2,1232023-06-30: 2,1752023-07-31: 2,1262023-08-31: 2,1312023-09-30: 2,1402023-10-31: 2,1512023-11-30: 2,2162023-12-31: 2,1852024-01-31: 2,1802024-02-29: 2,1812024-03-31: 2,1982024-04-30: 2,2372024-05-31: 2,2602024-06-30: 2,2502024-07-31: 2,2542024-08-31: 2,2722024-09-30: 2,2772024-10-31: 2,3272024-11-30: 2,3492024-12-31: 2,3292025-01-31: 2,3082025-02-28: 2,3072025-03-31: 2,3202025-04-30: 2,3792025-05-31: 2,3952025-06-30: 2,3902025-07-31: 2,3952025-08-31: 2,4352025-09-30: 2,4152025-10-31: 2,4292025-11-30: 2,4282025-12-31: 2,4582026-01-31: 2,4352026-02-28: 2,4352026-03-31: 2,4642026-04-30: 2,5092026-05-31: 2,5182026-06-30: 2,5252026-07-31: 2,523 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,657 to 2,525 · axis starts at 1,553

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.

247,091
229k240k251k2020-01-31: 238k2020-02-29: 237k2020-03-31: 238k2020-04-30: 235k2020-05-31: 234k2020-06-30: 234k2020-07-31: 234k2020-08-31: 234k2020-09-30: 233k2020-10-31: 233k2020-11-30: 233k2020-12-31: 233k2021-01-31: 231k2021-02-28: 231k2021-03-31: 232k2021-04-30: 234k2021-05-31: 236k2021-06-30: 238k2021-07-31: 239k2021-08-31: 239k2021-09-30: 240k2021-10-31: 239k2021-11-30: 240k2021-12-31: 240k2022-01-31: 239k2022-02-28: 239k2022-03-31: 240k2022-04-30: 241k2022-05-31: 242k2022-06-30: 243k2022-07-31: 244k2022-08-31: 244k2022-09-30: 244k2022-10-31: 244k2022-11-30: 244k2022-12-31: 244k2023-01-31: 242k2023-02-28: 243k2023-03-31: 243k2023-04-30: 245k2023-05-31: 245k2023-06-30: 247k2023-07-31: 248k2023-08-31: 248k2023-09-30: 248k2023-10-31: 247k2023-11-30: 248k2023-12-31: 247k2024-01-31: 246k2024-02-29: 246k2024-03-31: 246k2024-04-30: 246k2024-05-31: 247k2024-06-30: 248k2024-07-31: 249k2024-08-31: 249k2024-09-30: 248k2024-10-31: 248k2024-11-30: 248k2024-12-31: 247k2025-01-31: 245k2025-02-28: 245k2025-03-31: 245k2025-04-30: 246k2025-05-31: 246k2025-06-30: 247k2025-07-31: 248k2025-08-31: 248k2025-09-30: 247k2025-10-31: 247k2025-11-30: 247k2025-12-31: 246k2026-01-31: 244k2026-02-28: 243k2026-03-31: 244k2026-04-30: 245k2026-05-31: 245k2026-06-30: 246k2026-07-31: 247k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 231k to 249k · axis starts at 229k

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
24,520
21k23k26k2010-03-31: 22k2011-03-31: 22k2012-03-31: 22k2013-03-31: 22k2014-03-31: 22k2015-03-31: 24k2016-03-31: 24k2017-03-31: 24k2018-03-31: 24k2019-03-31: 25k2020-03-31: 25k2021-03-31: 25k2022-03-31: 25k2023-03-31: 25k2024-03-31: 25k2025-03-31: 25k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 22k to 25k · axis starts at 21k

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

19,360
16k18k20k2010-03-31: 17k2011-03-31: 17k2012-03-31: 17k2013-03-31: 17k2014-03-31: 17k2015-03-31: 18k2016-03-31: 19k2017-03-31: 19k2018-03-31: 19k2019-03-31: 19k2020-03-31: 20k2021-03-31: 20k2022-03-31: 20k2023-03-31: 19k2024-03-31: 19k2025-03-31: 19k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 17k to 20k · axis starts at 16k

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

1,315
1,1281,3181,5072010-03-31: 1,2252011-03-31: 1,1652012-03-31: 1,2302013-03-31: 1,2852014-03-31: 1,3402015-03-31: 1,3652016-03-31: 1,3502017-03-31: 1,3552018-03-31: 1,3552019-03-31: 1,3352020-03-31: 1,3552021-03-31: 1,3302022-03-31: 1,3602023-03-31: 1,4702024-03-31: 1,3452025-03-31: 1,315 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,165 to 1,470 · axis starts at 1,128

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

85
7792.51082010-03-31: 852011-03-31: 852012-03-31: 1002013-03-31: 1052014-03-31: 1002015-03-31: 1002016-03-31: 1002017-03-31: 1002018-03-31: 952019-03-31: 1002020-03-31: 1052021-03-31: 1002022-03-31: 1052023-03-31: 1002024-03-31: 802025-03-31: 85 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 80 to 105 · axis starts at 77

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

15
14.417.520.62010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 15 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 20 · axis starts at 14.4

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

745
6297388462010-03-31: 6602011-03-31: 6552012-03-31: 6502013-03-31: 7102014-03-31: 7152015-03-31: 7502016-03-31: 7552017-03-31: 7852018-03-31: 7752019-03-31: 7702020-03-31: 7452021-03-31: 7502022-03-31: 7552023-03-31: 8252024-03-31: 7752025-03-31: 745 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 650 to 825 · axis starts at 629

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

35
23.232.541.82010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 352014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 352017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 402020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 352022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 352025-03-31: 35 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25 to 40 · axis starts at 23.2

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

2,715
2,6712,9003,1292010-03-31: 2,7652011-03-31: 2,7652012-03-31: 2,8202013-03-31: 2,7302014-03-31: 2,9052015-03-31: 3,0852016-03-31: 2,8952017-03-31: 2,8752018-03-31: 2,8302019-03-31: 2,8652020-03-31: 2,9252021-03-31: 2,8352022-03-31: 2,9302023-03-31: 3,0552024-03-31: 2,9302025-03-31: 2,715 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,715 to 3,085 · axis starts at 2,671

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

245
1672102532010-03-31: 1752011-03-31: 1802012-03-31: 1802013-03-31: 1752014-03-31: 1952015-03-31: 2052016-03-31: 2202017-03-31: 2202018-03-31: 2302019-03-31: 2352020-03-31: 2302021-03-31: 2252022-03-31: 2102023-03-31: 2402024-03-31: 2452025-03-31: 245 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 175 to 245 · axis starts at 167

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

10
9.412.515.62010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 10 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

28,445
25k27k29k2010-03-31: 26k2011-03-31: 26k2012-03-31: 26k2013-03-31: 26k2014-03-31: 26k2015-03-31: 28k2016-03-31: 28k2017-03-31: 28k2018-03-31: 28k2019-03-31: 29k2020-03-31: 29k2021-03-31: 29k2022-03-31: 29k2023-03-31: 29k2024-03-31: 29k2025-03-31: 28k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 26k to 29k · axis starts at 25k

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

15,512
5,01311k17k1998-12-31: 6,1381999-12-31: 6,4862000-12-31: 6,8222001-12-31: 6,9272002-12-31: 7,1902003-12-31: 7,4972004-12-31: 7,9072005-12-31: 8,3712006-12-31: 8,7832007-12-31: 8,9012008-12-31: 9,3402009-12-31: 9,1402010-12-31: 9,2412011-12-31: 9,4882012-12-31: 9,7012013-12-31: 9,7272014-12-31: 10k2015-12-31: 11k2016-12-31: 11k2017-12-31: 12k2018-12-31: 12k2019-12-31: 12k2020-12-31: 12k2021-12-31: 13k2022-12-31: 14k2023-12-31: 16k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 6,138 to 16k · axis starts at 5,013

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Somerset

Somerset