The Datum Report

Local area

South West Wales

What we think is happening

The job market in South West Wales has been getting stronger.

improving · 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
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 10.2% -1.7 in the bottom 1% of 171
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 22.5% -1.9 in the bottom 8% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for South West Wales. 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
10.2%
9.911.513.22020-03-31: 12.82020-06-30: 11.82020-09-30: 12.22020-12-31: 11.62021-03-31: 10.92021-06-30: 11.02021-09-30: 10.82021-12-31: 10.82022-03-31: 11.12022-06-30: 10.92022-09-30: 11.02022-12-31: 11.42023-03-31: 11.42023-06-30: 12.42023-09-30: 12.12023-12-31: 12.62024-03-31: 12.92024-06-30: 12.22024-09-30: 12.32024-12-31: 11.42025-03-31: 11.72025-06-30: 11.82025-09-30: 11.62025-12-31: 11.92026-03-31: 10.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 10.2 to 12.9 · axis starts at 9.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.1, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
75.3%
69.572.775.92020-03-31: 73.32020-06-30: 72.22020-09-30: 72.42020-12-31: 71.22021-03-31: 70.12021-06-30: 70.92021-09-30: 71.42021-12-31: 70.82022-03-31: 71.82022-06-30: 72.02022-09-30: 72.32022-12-31: 72.92023-03-31: 73.12023-06-30: 72.82023-09-30: 73.42023-12-31: 73.82024-03-31: 71.72024-06-30: 71.92024-09-30: 72.82024-12-31: 72.32025-03-31: 73.32025-06-30: 73.52025-09-30: 73.22025-12-31: 73.62026-03-31: 75.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 70.1 to 75.3 · axis starts at 69.5

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
2.9%
2.23.44.62020-03-31: 3.92020-06-30: 3.42020-09-30: 2.42020-12-31: 2.72021-03-31: 3.52021-06-30: 4.42021-09-30: 4.12021-12-31: 4.42022-03-31: 4.02022-06-30: 3.22022-09-30: 3.12022-12-31: 3.02023-03-31: 3.12023-06-30: 3.22023-09-30: 3.52023-12-31: 3.32024-03-31: 3.12024-06-30: 2.62024-09-30: 2.72024-12-31: 3.82025-03-31: 3.72025-06-30: 4.12025-09-30: 3.62025-12-31: 2.52026-03-31: 2.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 2.4 to 4.4 · axis starts at 2.2

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

22.5%
21.925.028.02020-03-31: 23.72020-06-30: 25.22020-09-30: 25.82020-12-31: 26.92021-03-31: 27.42021-06-30: 25.82021-09-30: 25.52021-12-31: 25.92022-03-31: 25.32022-06-30: 25.62022-09-30: 25.42022-12-31: 24.92023-03-31: 24.62023-06-30: 24.72023-09-30: 23.92023-12-31: 23.82024-03-31: 26.02024-06-30: 26.12024-09-30: 25.12024-12-31: 24.82025-03-31: 23.82025-06-30: 23.32025-09-30: 24.12025-12-31: 24.42026-03-31: 22.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 22.5 to 27.4 · axis starts at 21.9

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

Claimant count
August 2026
5,760
4,2947,86511k2020-01-31: 5,2052020-02-29: 5,2352020-03-31: 5,2702020-04-30: 9,6402020-05-31: 11k2020-06-30: 10k2020-07-31: 11k2020-08-31: 11k2020-09-30: 10k2020-10-31: 9,7402020-11-30: 9,7052020-12-31: 9,6152021-01-31: 9,4602021-02-28: 9,9552021-03-31: 9,7802021-04-30: 9,5902021-05-31: 8,8252021-06-30: 8,0952021-07-31: 7,9152021-08-31: 7,6202021-09-30: 7,2652021-10-31: 6,9602021-11-30: 6,7202021-12-31: 6,5752022-01-31: 6,6352022-02-28: 6,5702022-03-31: 6,3002022-04-30: 5,7052022-05-31: 5,5302022-06-30: 5,3452022-07-31: 5,2502022-08-31: 5,3352022-09-30: 5,3302022-10-31: 5,3052022-11-30: 5,3752022-12-31: 5,4552023-01-31: 5,4152023-02-28: 5,4902023-03-31: 5,4752023-04-30: 5,4852023-05-31: 5,3052023-06-30: 5,2052023-07-31: 5,0602023-08-31: 5,0052023-09-30: 4,9852023-10-31: 5,0852023-11-30: 5,2052023-12-31: 5,3202024-01-31: 5,3652024-02-29: 5,5502024-03-31: 5,6502024-04-30: 5,6352024-05-31: 5,6852024-06-30: 5,7102024-07-31: 6,0352024-08-31: 6,1152024-09-30: 6,1652024-10-31: 5,9302024-11-30: 5,9302024-12-31: 5,7952025-01-31: 5,8952025-02-28: 5,8752025-03-31: 5,7002025-04-30: 5,5652025-05-31: 5,4352025-06-30: 5,4802025-07-31: 5,4102025-08-31: 5,4302025-09-30: 5,3302025-10-31: 5,4452025-11-30: 5,4852025-12-31: 5,5702026-01-31: 5,5552026-02-28: 5,7652026-03-31: 5,7852026-04-30: 5,6652026-05-31: 5,6352026-06-30: 5,6352026-07-31: 5,6152026-08-31: 5,760 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 4,985 to 11k · axis starts at 4,294

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

3.2%
3.03.13.22026-01-31: 32026-02-28: 3.22026-03-31: 3.22026-04-30: 3.12026-05-31: 3.12026-06-30: 3.12026-07-31: 3.12026-08-31: 3.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3 to 3.2 · axis starts at 3.0

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.

36.8%
19.731.142.52020-03-31: 32.12020-06-30: 31.62020-09-30: 28.12020-12-31: 26.62021-03-31: 23.52021-06-30: 21.92021-09-30: 25.72021-12-31: 29.42022-03-31: 31.52022-06-30: 34.92022-09-30: 34.12022-12-31: 34.52023-03-31: 34.82023-06-30: 33.72023-09-30: 33.52023-12-31: 33.22024-03-31: 35.62024-06-30: 37.22024-09-30: 40.32024-12-31: 37.42025-03-31: 36.02025-06-30: 38.92025-09-30: 35.32025-12-31: 37.22026-03-31: 36.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 21.9 to 40.3 · axis starts at 19.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.8, basis not documented by the producer

17.7%
10.015.821.52020-03-31: 15.62020-06-30: 14.82020-09-30: 13.42020-12-31: 13.52021-03-31: 14.92021-06-30: 16.92021-09-30: 16.02021-12-31: 16.72022-03-31: 15.72022-06-30: 14.82022-09-30: 15.92022-12-31: 15.82023-03-31: 18.02023-06-30: 18.62023-09-30: 20.42023-12-31: 17.42024-03-31: 14.22024-06-30: 13.02024-09-30: 12.22024-12-31: 12.72025-03-31: 12.32025-06-30: 11.12025-09-30: 12.92025-12-31: 16.22026-03-31: 17.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 11.1 to 20.4 · axis starts at 10.0

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

13.6%
11.516.521.52020-03-31: 20.52020-06-30: 19.52020-09-30: 19.52020-12-31: 19.12021-03-31: 19.22021-06-30: 19.32021-09-30: 18.02021-12-31: 17.12022-03-31: 15.52022-06-30: 14.02022-09-30: 13.02022-12-31: 12.62023-03-31: 12.52023-06-30: 13.62023-09-30: 13.32023-12-31: 13.62024-03-31: 14.22024-06-30: 15.22024-09-30: 16.82024-12-31: 16.02025-03-31: 16.22025-06-30: 14.72025-09-30: 15.02025-12-31: 13.42026-03-31: 13.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 12.5 to 20.5 · axis starts at 11.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.8, basis not documented by the producer

20.6%
16.923.129.32020-03-31: 20.32020-06-30: 23.52020-09-30: 23.82020-12-31: 24.52021-03-31: 26.92021-06-30: 26.22021-09-30: 28.12021-12-31: 25.82022-03-31: 25.32022-06-30: 24.72022-09-30: 24.92022-12-31: 23.92023-03-31: 22.32023-06-30: 21.32023-09-30: 23.22023-12-31: 24.72024-03-31: 23.02024-06-30: 22.62024-09-30: 18.12024-12-31: 21.22025-03-31: 24.82025-06-30: 23.72025-09-30: 23.52025-12-31: 21.12026-03-31: 20.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18.1 to 28.1 · axis starts at 16.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.7, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 1
£21,212
7,80415k23k1997-12-31: 9,2411998-12-31: 9,3601999-12-31: 9,6442000-12-31: 9,7012001-12-31: 10k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 11k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 13k2008-12-31: 14k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 14k2012-12-31: 15k2013-12-31: 15k2014-12-31: 15k2015-12-31: 16k2016-12-31: 16k2017-12-31: 16k2018-12-31: 17k2019-12-31: 17k2020-12-31: 17k2021-12-31: 18k2022-12-31: 19k2023-12-31: 20k2024-12-31: 21k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,241 to 21k · axis starts at 7,804

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
13,615
12k13k14k2010-03-31: 13k2011-03-31: 12k2012-03-31: 12k2013-03-31: 12k2014-03-31: 12k2015-03-31: 13k2016-03-31: 13k2017-03-31: 13k2018-03-31: 13k2019-03-31: 14k2020-03-31: 14k2021-03-31: 14k2022-03-31: 14k2023-03-31: 14k2024-03-31: 14k2025-03-31: 14k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 12k to 14k · axis starts at 12k

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

10,700
9,29510k11k2010-03-31: 10k2011-03-31: 9,7752012-03-31: 9,7402013-03-31: 9,4852014-03-31: 9,5752015-03-31: 10k2016-03-31: 10k2017-03-31: 10k2018-03-31: 10k2019-03-31: 11k2020-03-31: 11k2021-03-31: 11k2022-03-31: 11k2023-03-31: 11k2024-03-31: 11k2025-03-31: 11k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 9,485 to 11k · axis starts at 9,295

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

770
5966927892010-03-31: 6702011-03-31: 6302012-03-31: 6152013-03-31: 6302014-03-31: 6752015-03-31: 7152016-03-31: 7052017-03-31: 6902018-03-31: 7352019-03-31: 7652020-03-31: 7402021-03-31: 7502022-03-31: 7302023-03-31: 7352024-03-31: 7402025-03-31: 770 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 615 to 770 · axis starts at 596

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

45
28.237.546.82010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 302014-03-31: 402015-03-31: 402016-03-31: 402017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 352024-03-31: 352025-03-31: 45 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 45 · axis starts at 28.2

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

10
4.47.510.62010-03-31: 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: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5 to 10 · axis starts at 4.4

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

365
2453224002010-03-31: 2752011-03-31: 2602012-03-31: 2702013-03-31: 2952014-03-31: 3152015-03-31: 3552016-03-31: 3452017-03-31: 3752018-03-31: 3652019-03-31: 3652020-03-31: 3702021-03-31: 3702022-03-31: 3752023-03-31: 3852024-03-31: 3652025-03-31: 365 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 260 to 385 · axis starts at 245

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: 152014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 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

1,615
1,4361,6101,7842010-03-31: 1,5602011-03-31: 1,4702012-03-31: 1,5302013-03-31: 1,5252014-03-31: 1,5702015-03-31: 1,7152016-03-31: 1,6102017-03-31: 1,6002018-03-31: 1,6452019-03-31: 1,7502020-03-31: 1,7402021-03-31: 1,7102022-03-31: 1,7502023-03-31: 1,7452024-03-31: 1,7002025-03-31: 1,615 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,470 to 1,750 · axis starts at 1,436

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

95
76.4951142010-03-31: 802011-03-31: 852012-03-31: 852013-03-31: 852014-03-31: 852015-03-31: 802016-03-31: 952017-03-31: 902018-03-31: 1052019-03-31: 952020-03-31: 1002021-03-31: 902022-03-31: 1002023-03-31: 1002024-03-31: 1102025-03-31: 95 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 80 to 110 · axis starts at 76.4

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

5
4.47.510.62010-03-31: 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: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5 to 10 · axis starts at 4.4

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

15,810
14k15k16k2010-03-31: 15k2011-03-31: 15k2012-03-31: 15k2013-03-31: 14k2014-03-31: 15k2015-03-31: 15k2016-03-31: 15k2017-03-31: 16k2018-03-31: 16k2019-03-31: 16k2020-03-31: 16k2021-03-31: 16k2022-03-31: 16k2023-03-31: 16k2024-03-31: 16k2025-03-31: 16k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 14k to 16k · axis starts at 14k

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

7,167
2,3155,0017,6871998-12-31: 2,8851999-12-31: 2,8352000-12-31: 2,9142001-12-31: 3,0852002-12-31: 3,1902003-12-31: 3,4252004-12-31: 3,8482005-12-31: 3,8652006-12-31: 3,9172007-12-31: 4,1862008-12-31: 4,2242009-12-31: 3,9372010-12-31: 4,0542011-12-31: 4,1212012-12-31: 4,3662013-12-31: 4,6812014-12-31: 4,7552015-12-31: 5,2992016-12-31: 5,4002017-12-31: 5,5412018-12-31: 5,5572019-12-31: 6,0192020-12-31: 5,5042021-12-31: 5,7742022-12-31: 6,8422023-12-31: 7,167 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 2,835 to 7,167 · axis starts at 2,315

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in South West Wales

Carmarthenshire · Pembrokeshire