The Datum Report

Local area

South West Hertfordshire

What we think is happening

Businesses employing 100 to 249 people in South West Hertfordshire has been falling, while businesses employing 250 to 499 people has been rising.

mixed · tentative confidence · formed 5 October 2026 · how we reached this

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in South West Hertfordshire has been weakening.

strong confidence · how we reached this

By subject

Every figure published for South West Hertfordshire. 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
10.6%
8.712.716.62020-03-31: 13.82020-06-30: 13.52020-09-30: 12.02020-12-31: 11.92021-03-31: 11.52021-06-30: 11.52021-09-30: 12.22021-12-31: 11.72022-03-31: 10.92022-06-30: 10.82022-09-30: 9.62022-12-31: 9.52023-03-31: 10.52023-06-30: 9.92023-09-30: 9.92023-12-31: 11.72024-06-30: 12.92024-09-30: 15.92024-12-31: 15.42025-03-31: 14.72025-06-30: 13.62025-09-30: 11.82025-12-31: 112026-03-31: 10.6 2020-03 2026-03
24 monthly readings · 9.5 to 15.9 · axis starts at 8.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.4, basis not documented by the producer
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
79.3%
76.078.981.72020-03-31: 79.22020-06-30: 78.02020-09-30: 77.32020-12-31: 77.22021-03-31: 78.22021-06-30: 78.52021-09-30: 78.42021-12-31: 79.32022-03-31: 78.92022-06-30: 78.52022-09-30: 79.12022-12-31: 77.72023-03-31: 78.82023-06-30: 79.72023-09-30: 79.22023-12-31: 77.42024-03-31: 76.62024-06-30: 78.92024-09-30: 79.82024-12-31: 81.22025-03-31: 79.52025-06-30: 79.52025-09-30: 79.32025-12-31: 78.12026-03-31: 79.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 76.6 to 81.2 · axis starts at 76.0

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
5.1%
3.84.65.32021-12-31: 4.22022-03-31: 4.02025-12-31: 5.22026-03-31: 5.1 2021-12 2026-03
4 monthly readings · 4.0 to 5.2 · axis starts at 3.8

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

16.5%
15.218.321.42020-03-31: 17.12020-06-30: 18.32020-09-30: 19.12020-12-31: 19.92021-03-31: 19.12021-06-30: 18.52021-09-30: 18.22021-12-31: 17.22022-03-31: 17.82022-06-30: 18.82022-09-30: 18.62022-12-31: 20.32023-03-31: 19.92023-06-30: 18.62023-09-30: 19.62023-12-31: 20.32024-03-31: 20.82024-06-30: 19.12024-09-30: 17.52024-12-31: 15.82025-03-31: 16.82025-06-30: 17.02025-09-30: 17.02025-12-31: 17.62026-03-31: 16.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.8 to 20.8 · axis starts at 15.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.9, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
12,740
5,34613k21k2020-01-31: 6,8652020-02-29: 7,1502020-03-31: 7,3652020-04-30: 13k2020-05-31: 19k2020-06-30: 19k2020-07-31: 19k2020-08-31: 20k2020-09-30: 19k2020-10-31: 19k2020-11-30: 19k2020-12-31: 19k2021-01-31: 18k2021-02-28: 19k2021-03-31: 19k2021-04-30: 19k2021-05-31: 17k2021-06-30: 16k2021-07-31: 15k2021-08-31: 15k2021-09-30: 14k2021-10-31: 13k2021-11-30: 12k2021-12-31: 12k2022-01-31: 11k2022-02-28: 11k2022-03-31: 11k2022-04-30: 10k2022-05-31: 10k2022-06-30: 9,8602022-07-31: 9,6802022-08-31: 9,7152022-09-30: 9,7402022-10-31: 9,7252022-11-30: 9,7902022-12-31: 9,7902023-01-31: 9,5252023-02-28: 9,7002023-03-31: 9,7752023-04-30: 10k2023-05-31: 9,9952023-06-30: 10k2023-07-31: 10k2023-08-31: 10k2023-09-30: 10k2023-10-31: 11k2023-11-30: 11k2023-12-31: 11k2024-01-31: 11k2024-02-29: 11k2024-03-31: 11k2024-04-30: 11k2024-05-31: 11k2024-06-30: 12k2024-07-31: 13k2024-08-31: 13k2024-09-30: 13k2024-10-31: 13k2024-11-30: 13k2024-12-31: 12k2025-01-31: 12k2025-02-28: 13k2025-03-31: 13k2025-04-30: 13k2025-05-31: 13k2025-06-30: 13k2025-07-31: 13k2025-08-31: 12k2025-09-30: 12k2025-10-31: 12k2025-11-30: 12k2025-12-31: 12k2026-01-31: 12k2026-02-28: 12k2026-03-31: 12k2026-04-30: 12k2026-05-31: 12k2026-06-30: 12k2026-07-31: 12k2026-08-31: 13k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 6,865 to 20k · axis starts at 5,346

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

3.3%
3.13.23.32026-01-31: 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: 3.3 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.1 to 3.3 · 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.

24.3%
17.421.225.02021-06-30: 18.12025-09-30: 23.82025-12-31: 22.52026-03-31: 24.3 2021-06 2026-03
4 monthly readings · 18.1 to 24.3 · axis starts at 17.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.2, basis not documented by the producer
21 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

18.3%
17.022.026.92021-06-30: 18.02021-09-30: 21.82021-12-31: 24.52022-03-31: 21.72022-06-30: 19.42022-09-30: 18.72022-12-31: 19.72023-03-31: 23.82025-03-31: 25.92025-06-30: 25.22025-12-31: 19.42026-03-31: 18.3 2021-06 2026-03
12 monthly readings · 18.0 to 25.9 · axis starts at 17.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.4, basis not documented by the producer
13 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

13.9%
10.219.729.22021-03-31: 12.02021-06-30: 13.42021-09-30: 14.02023-09-30: 21.52023-12-31: 25.92024-03-31: 27.42025-12-31: 14.52026-03-31: 13.9 2021-03 2026-03
8 monthly readings · 12.0 to 27.4 · axis starts at 10.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.6, basis not documented by the producer
17 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

32.4%
23.732.340.82020-09-30: 25.42020-12-31: 26.52021-03-31: 28.52021-06-30: 32.22021-09-30: 31.92021-12-31: 32.62022-03-31: 39.22022-06-30: 37.52022-09-30: 36.72022-12-31: 33.22023-03-31: 25.72023-06-30: 29.52025-12-31: 29.72026-03-31: 32.4 2020-09 2026-03
14 monthly readings · 25.4 to 39.2 · axis starts at 23.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.9, basis not documented by the producer
11 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£34,909
11k24k37k1997-12-31: 14k1998-12-31: 14k1999-12-31: 15k2000-12-31: 16k2001-12-31: 17k2002-12-31: 17k2003-12-31: 17k2004-12-31: 18k2005-12-31: 18k2006-12-31: 19k2007-12-31: 20k2008-12-31: 21k2009-12-31: 21k2010-12-31: 21k2011-12-31: 21k2012-12-31: 22k2013-12-31: 23k2014-12-31: 24k2015-12-31: 25k2016-12-31: 25k2017-12-31: 26k2018-12-31: 27k2019-12-31: 28k2020-12-31: 27k2021-12-31: 29k2022-12-31: 31k2023-12-31: 33k2024-12-31: 35k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 14k to 35k · axis starts at 11k

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2026
35,025
24k30k37k2010-03-31: 25k2011-03-31: 25k2012-03-31: 26k2013-03-31: 27k2014-03-31: 28k2015-03-31: 31k2016-03-31: 33k2017-03-31: 35k2018-03-31: 34k2019-03-31: 35k2020-03-31: 36k2021-03-31: 35k2022-03-31: 35k2023-03-31: 34k2024-03-31: 34k2025-03-31: 34k2026-03-31: 35k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 25k to 36k · axis starts at 24k

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

28,605
19k25k31k2010-03-31: 20k2011-03-31: 20k2012-03-31: 21k2013-03-31: 21k2014-03-31: 23k2015-03-31: 25k2016-03-31: 27k2017-03-31: 29k2018-03-31: 28k2019-03-31: 29k2020-03-31: 29k2021-03-31: 29k2022-03-31: 29k2023-03-31: 28k2024-03-31: 28k2025-03-31: 28k2026-03-31: 29k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 20k to 29k · axis starts at 19k

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

1,730
1,1251,4601,7952010-03-31: 1,2102011-03-31: 1,1902012-03-31: 1,2652013-03-31: 1,3552014-03-31: 1,4252015-03-31: 1,5652016-03-31: 1,5702017-03-31: 1,6052018-03-31: 1,6502019-03-31: 1,6252020-03-31: 1,6652021-03-31: 1,5902022-03-31: 1,6302023-03-31: 1,6552024-03-31: 1,6952025-03-31: 1,7252026-03-31: 1,730 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 1,190 to 1,730 · axis starts at 1,125

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

165
1331682022010-03-31: 1402011-03-31: 1452012-03-31: 1502013-03-31: 1752014-03-31: 1752015-03-31: 1852016-03-31: 1952017-03-31: 1902018-03-31: 1952019-03-31: 1902020-03-31: 1902021-03-31: 1652022-03-31: 1702023-03-31: 1752024-03-31: 1652025-03-31: 1752026-03-31: 165 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 140 to 195 · axis starts at 133

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

50
38.247.556.82010-03-31: 452011-03-31: 452012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 452014-03-31: 452015-03-31: 502016-03-31: 552017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 502019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 502021-03-31: 552022-03-31: 552023-03-31: 502024-03-31: 502025-03-31: 502026-03-31: 50 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 40 to 55 · axis starts at 38.2

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

825
5747358962010-03-31: 6352011-03-31: 6052012-03-31: 6452013-03-31: 7052014-03-31: 7402015-03-31: 7452016-03-31: 7602017-03-31: 7902018-03-31: 7652019-03-31: 7852020-03-31: 8052021-03-31: 7902022-03-31: 8352023-03-31: 8452024-03-31: 8652025-03-31: 8402026-03-31: 825 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 605 to 865 · axis starts at 574

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

75
2960912010-03-31: 452011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 552015-03-31: 552016-03-31: 602017-03-31: 552018-03-31: 552019-03-31: 702020-03-31: 702021-03-31: 852022-03-31: 652023-03-31: 602024-03-31: 552025-03-31: 602026-03-31: 75 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 35 to 85 · axis starts at 29

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

3,210
2,6773,0523,4282010-03-31: 2,8002011-03-31: 2,7502012-03-31: 2,8402013-03-31: 2,7802014-03-31: 2,8902015-03-31: 3,0202016-03-31: 2,9052017-03-31: 3,1102018-03-31: 3,0102019-03-31: 3,1002020-03-31: 3,3552021-03-31: 3,1402022-03-31: 3,1602023-03-31: 3,2052024-03-31: 3,1602025-03-31: 3,1252026-03-31: 3,210 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 2,750 to 3,355 · axis starts at 2,677

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

325
2132753372010-03-31: 2252011-03-31: 2302012-03-31: 2402013-03-31: 2352014-03-31: 2402015-03-31: 2352016-03-31: 2452017-03-31: 2552018-03-31: 2752019-03-31: 2652020-03-31: 2852021-03-31: 2852022-03-31: 2952023-03-31: 3152024-03-31: 3152025-03-31: 3102026-03-31: 325 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 225 to 325 · axis starts at 213

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

35
1732.5482010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 402018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 402020-03-31: 352021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 352024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 452026-03-31: 35 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 20 to 45 · axis starts at 17

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

38,715
27k34k41k2010-03-31: 29k2011-03-31: 29k2012-03-31: 30k2013-03-31: 31k2014-03-31: 32k2015-03-31: 34k2016-03-31: 36k2017-03-31: 39k2018-03-31: 38k2019-03-31: 39k2020-03-31: 40k2021-03-31: 39k2022-03-31: 39k2023-03-31: 38k2024-03-31: 38k2025-03-31: 38k2026-03-31: 39k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 29k to 40k · axis starts at 27k

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

27,301
7,50218k29k1998-12-31: 9,6231999-12-31: 10k2000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 12k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 13k2005-12-31: 14k2006-12-31: 14k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 15k2009-12-31: 15k2010-12-31: 15k2011-12-31: 15k2012-12-31: 15k2013-12-31: 16k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 20k2017-12-31: 22k2018-12-31: 23k2019-12-31: 23k2020-12-31: 22k2021-12-31: 24k2022-12-31: 25k2023-12-31: 27k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 9,623 to 27k · axis starts at 7,502

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in South West Hertfordshire

Dacorum · Hertsmere · St Albans · Three Rivers · Watford