The Datum Report

Local area

Southampton

What we think is happening

Pay in Southampton has been growing.

improving · established confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in Southampton has been going both ways.

tentative confidence · how we reached this

Moving with the rest of the country

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

By subject

Every figure published for Southampton. 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
8.2%
3.77.110.62020-03-31: 8.02020-06-30: 8.62020-09-30: 9.12020-12-31: 9.72021-03-31: 9.92021-06-30: 7.72021-09-30: 6.82021-12-31: 7.52022-03-31: 7.72022-06-30: 8.02022-09-30: 9.02022-12-31: 7.22023-03-31: 9.32023-06-30: 9.02023-09-30: 8.62023-12-31: 6.42024-03-31: 5.52024-06-30: 4.32024-09-30: 4.62024-12-31: 5.72025-03-31: 7.02025-06-30: 7.52025-09-30: 7.52025-12-31: 82026-03-31: 8.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 4.3 to 9.9 · axis starts at 3.7

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
73.3%
72.076.280.42020-03-31: 76.02020-06-30: 74.82020-09-30: 74.52020-12-31: 76.92021-03-31: 79.62021-06-30: 75.52021-09-30: 75.42021-12-31: 74.22022-03-31: 74.32022-06-30: 78.62022-09-30: 78.12022-12-31: 76.12023-03-31: 76.72023-06-30: 74.82023-09-30: 75.02023-12-31: 76.02024-03-31: 76.02024-06-30: 75.22024-09-30: 75.82024-12-31: 76.92025-03-31: 78.92025-06-30: 73.52025-09-30: 72.82025-12-31: 74.42026-03-31: 73.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.8 to 79.6 · axis starts at 72.0

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

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
5.5%
1.13.96.82020-03-31: 5.42020-06-30: 5.82020-09-30: 6.02020-12-31: 3.12021-03-31: 3.62021-06-30: 5.02021-09-30: 5.42021-12-31: 6.22022-03-31: 4.82022-06-30: 3.52022-09-30: 3.42022-12-31: 4.42023-03-31: 4.32023-06-30: 4.82023-09-30: 4.02023-12-31: 3.22024-03-31: 3.92024-06-30: 3.52024-09-30: 3.92024-12-31: 1.72025-03-31: 1.82025-06-30: 2.92025-09-30: 3.02025-12-31: 4.92026-03-31: 5.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 1.7 to 6.2 · axis starts at 1.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.2, basis not documented by the producer

22.4%
16.521.225.82020-03-31: 19.72020-06-30: 20.62020-09-30: 20.82020-12-31: 20.62021-03-31: 17.42021-06-30: 20.62021-09-30: 20.32021-12-31: 20.92022-03-31: 22.02022-06-30: 18.52022-09-30: 19.12022-12-31: 20.42023-03-31: 19.92023-06-30: 21.52023-09-30: 21.82023-12-31: 21.62024-03-31: 20.82024-06-30: 22.12024-09-30: 21.12024-12-31: 21.82025-03-31: 19.72025-06-30: 24.22025-09-30: 24.92025-12-31: 21.82026-03-31: 22.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 17.4 to 24.9 · axis starts at 16.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.6, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
7,440
4,4738,72013k2020-01-31: 5,2952020-02-29: 5,5552020-03-31: 5,5952020-04-30: 9,5202020-05-31: 12k2020-06-30: 11k2020-07-31: 12k2020-08-31: 12k2020-09-30: 12k2020-10-31: 12k2020-11-30: 12k2020-12-31: 12k2021-01-31: 11k2021-02-28: 12k2021-03-31: 12k2021-04-30: 12k2021-05-31: 11k2021-06-30: 10k2021-07-31: 10k2021-08-31: 9,5952021-09-30: 9,1052021-10-31: 8,7702021-11-30: 8,5102021-12-31: 8,2552022-01-31: 8,0802022-02-28: 8,1552022-03-31: 7,8652022-04-30: 7,5402022-05-31: 7,3002022-06-30: 7,2202022-07-31: 6,9852022-08-31: 6,8852022-09-30: 6,6102022-10-31: 6,5852022-11-30: 6,6802022-12-31: 6,7502023-01-31: 6,6752023-02-28: 6,8502023-03-31: 6,9302023-04-30: 6,9252023-05-31: 6,7802023-06-30: 6,8802023-07-31: 6,8252023-08-31: 6,8552023-09-30: 6,9252023-10-31: 6,8002023-11-30: 6,9352023-12-31: 6,9302024-01-31: 6,9552024-02-29: 7,2702024-03-31: 7,2952024-04-30: 7,3102024-05-31: 7,3102024-06-30: 7,4452024-07-31: 7,7652024-08-31: 7,6602024-09-30: 7,7552024-10-31: 7,7352024-11-30: 7,5052024-12-31: 7,3452025-01-31: 7,5102025-02-28: 7,7952025-03-31: 7,7352025-04-30: 7,5752025-05-31: 7,4602025-06-30: 7,3352025-07-31: 7,2052025-08-31: 7,1802025-09-30: 7,1352025-10-31: 7,1602025-11-30: 7,0702025-12-31: 7,1602026-01-31: 7,3202026-02-28: 7,5052026-03-31: 7,4652026-04-30: 7,4602026-05-31: 7,4052026-06-30: 7,3852026-07-31: 7,3102026-08-31: 7,440 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 5,295 to 12k · axis starts at 4,473

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

4.2%
4.14.24.22026-01-31: 4.12026-02-28: 4.22026-03-31: 4.22026-04-30: 4.22026-05-31: 4.12026-06-30: 4.12026-07-31: 4.12026-08-31: 4.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 4.1 to 4.2 · axis starts at 4.1

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.

27.5%
14.321.929.62020-03-31: 17.92020-06-30: 15.82020-09-30: 19.62020-12-31: 21.52021-03-31: 19.82021-06-30: 20.32021-09-30: 18.82021-12-31: 17.52022-03-31: 22.02022-06-30: 20.22022-09-30: 21.82022-12-31: 22.72023-03-31: 22.32023-06-30: 24.32023-09-30: 24.22023-12-31: 242024-03-31: 21.92024-06-30: 23.72024-09-30: 24.22024-12-31: 25.72025-03-31: 20.62025-06-30: 24.52025-09-30: 26.42025-12-31: 28.12026-03-31: 27.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.8 to 28.1 · axis starts at 14.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.5, basis not documented by the producer

23.9%
12.422.833.22020-03-31: 21.72020-06-30: 17.52020-09-30: 15.72020-12-31: 18.92021-03-31: 19.12021-06-30: 17.72021-09-30: 15.92021-12-31: 14.42022-03-31: 18.12022-06-30: 21.52022-09-30: 27.52022-12-31: 22.72023-03-31: 24.12023-06-30: 23.72023-09-30: 23.42023-12-31: 31.22024-03-31: 30.52024-06-30: 27.12024-09-30: 25.32024-12-31: 21.82025-03-31: 24.12025-06-30: 17.42025-09-30: 22.22025-12-31: 22.52026-03-31: 23.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.4 to 31.2 · axis starts at 12.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.2, basis not documented by the producer

4.8%
1.57.413.42020-03-31: 5.32020-06-30: 4.82020-09-30: 4.22020-12-31: 7.92021-03-31: 10.72021-06-30: 11.32021-09-30: 12.22021-12-31: 10.22022-03-31: 8.62022-06-30: 7.82022-09-30: 5.72022-12-31: 6.82023-03-31: 6.72023-06-30: 7.52023-09-30: 8.42023-12-31: 4.52024-03-31: 2.82024-06-30: 2.62024-09-30: 2.72024-12-31: 5.22025-03-31: 7.22025-06-30: 4.22025-09-30: 5.02025-12-31: 5.72026-03-31: 4.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 2.6 to 12.2 · axis starts at 1.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.1, basis not documented by the producer

33.3%
19.436.653.72020-03-31: 46.02020-06-30: 50.42020-09-30: 48.22020-12-31: 38.42021-03-31: 30.22021-06-30: 36.32021-09-30: 38.92021-12-31: 42.12022-03-31: 38.72022-06-30: 35.22022-09-30: 26.62022-12-31: 34.12023-03-31: 33.62023-06-30: 31.72023-09-30: 29.52023-12-31: 23.72024-03-31: 22.72024-06-30: 27.92024-09-30: 30.42024-12-31: 34.92025-03-31: 35.12025-06-30: 41.92025-09-30: 37.82025-12-31: 33.82026-03-31: 33.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 22.7 to 50.4 · axis starts at 19.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.0, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£20,886
8,19115k22k1997-12-31: 9,6821998-12-31: 9,5511999-12-31: 9,7072000-12-31: 10k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 12k2007-12-31: 13k2008-12-31: 13k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 14k2012-12-31: 14k2013-12-31: 14k2014-12-31: 15k2015-12-31: 15k2016-12-31: 16k2017-12-31: 16k2018-12-31: 17k2019-12-31: 18k2020-12-31: 18k2021-12-31: 18k2022-12-31: 19k2023-12-31: 20k2024-12-31: 21k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,551 to 21k · axis starts at 8,191

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,585
1,6602,1722,6842020-01-31: 1,7822020-02-29: 1,7882020-03-31: 1,7832020-04-30: 1,7592020-05-31: 1,7682020-06-30: 1,7872020-07-31: 1,8142020-08-31: 1,8272020-09-30: 1,8582020-10-31: 1,8642020-11-30: 1,8642020-12-31: 1,8852021-01-31: 1,8642021-02-28: 1,8642021-03-31: 1,8902021-04-30: 1,9222021-05-31: 1,9142021-06-30: 1,9222021-07-31: 1,9242021-08-31: 1,9322021-09-30: 1,9572021-10-31: 1,9522021-11-30: 1,9532021-12-31: 1,9752022-01-31: 1,9632022-02-28: 1,9742022-03-31: 2,0052022-04-30: 2,0262022-05-31: 2,0212022-06-30: 2,0322022-07-31: 2,0332022-08-31: 2,0652022-09-30: 2,1152022-10-31: 2,0972022-11-30: 2,1142022-12-31: 2,1222023-01-31: 2,1102023-02-28: 2,1122023-03-31: 2,1392023-04-30: 2,1672023-05-31: 2,2072023-06-30: 2,2812023-07-31: 2,2032023-08-31: 2,2142023-09-30: 2,2302023-10-31: 2,2322023-11-30: 2,2562023-12-31: 2,2672024-01-31: 2,2492024-02-29: 2,2492024-03-31: 2,2802024-04-30: 2,3172024-05-31: 2,3302024-06-30: 2,3262024-07-31: 2,3282024-08-31: 2,3472024-09-30: 2,3592024-10-31: 2,4222024-11-30: 2,4052024-12-31: 2,3912025-01-31: 2,3772025-02-28: 2,3852025-03-31: 2,4032025-04-30: 2,4472025-05-31: 2,4602025-06-30: 2,4612025-07-31: 2,4742025-08-31: 2,5242025-09-30: 2,4982025-10-31: 2,4902025-11-30: 2,4842025-12-31: 2,5062026-01-31: 2,5122026-02-28: 2,5112026-03-31: 2,5312026-04-30: 2,5692026-05-31: 2,5762026-06-30: 2,5832026-07-31: 2,585 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,759 to 2,585 · axis starts at 1,660

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.

116,335
106k113k120k2020-01-31: 112k2020-02-29: 112k2020-03-31: 112k2020-04-30: 110k2020-05-31: 109k2020-06-30: 110k2020-07-31: 110k2020-08-31: 109k2020-09-30: 108k2020-10-31: 108k2020-11-30: 109k2020-12-31: 109k2021-01-31: 107k2021-02-28: 107k2021-03-31: 107k2021-04-30: 108k2021-05-31: 109k2021-06-30: 110k2021-07-31: 111k2021-08-31: 111k2021-09-30: 111k2021-10-31: 112k2021-11-30: 113k2021-12-31: 113k2022-01-31: 112k2022-02-28: 113k2022-03-31: 114k2022-04-30: 114k2022-05-31: 114k2022-06-30: 114k2022-07-31: 115k2022-08-31: 114k2022-09-30: 115k2022-10-31: 115k2022-11-30: 116k2022-12-31: 116k2023-01-31: 115k2023-02-28: 115k2023-03-31: 115k2023-04-30: 116k2023-05-31: 116k2023-06-30: 117k2023-07-31: 117k2023-08-31: 116k2023-09-30: 117k2023-10-31: 117k2023-11-30: 118k2023-12-31: 118k2024-01-31: 117k2024-02-29: 116k2024-03-31: 117k2024-04-30: 117k2024-05-31: 118k2024-06-30: 118k2024-07-31: 118k2024-08-31: 117k2024-09-30: 117k2024-10-31: 118k2024-11-30: 118k2024-12-31: 118k2025-01-31: 117k2025-02-28: 116k2025-03-31: 117k2025-04-30: 117k2025-05-31: 117k2025-06-30: 117k2025-07-31: 117k2025-08-31: 117k2025-09-30: 117k2025-10-31: 117k2025-11-30: 117k2025-12-31: 117k2026-01-31: 116k2026-02-28: 116k2026-03-31: 116k2026-04-30: 116k2026-05-31: 116k2026-06-30: 116k2026-07-31: 116k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 107k to 118k · axis starts at 106k

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
7,235
4,4736,8609,2472010-03-31: 5,1302011-03-31: 4,9352012-03-31: 5,1602013-03-31: 5,1952014-03-31: 5,4602015-03-31: 5,9302016-03-31: 6,5052017-03-31: 6,7102018-03-31: 6,7452019-03-31: 7,0152020-03-31: 8,3102021-03-31: 8,7852022-03-31: 7,8902023-03-31: 7,6152024-03-31: 7,4002025-03-31: 7,235 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,935 to 8,785 · axis starts at 4,473

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

5,730
3,0925,4057,7182010-03-31: 3,7152011-03-31: 3,5402012-03-31: 3,7452013-03-31: 3,7352014-03-31: 3,9452015-03-31: 4,3402016-03-31: 4,9902017-03-31: 5,1652018-03-31: 5,2152019-03-31: 5,4802020-03-31: 6,7852021-03-31: 7,2702022-03-31: 6,3802023-03-31: 6,0352024-03-31: 5,8702025-03-31: 5,730 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,540 to 7,270 · axis starts at 3,092

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

380
3253784302010-03-31: 3552011-03-31: 3352012-03-31: 3402013-03-31: 3802014-03-31: 3802015-03-31: 4102016-03-31: 4002017-03-31: 4052018-03-31: 3702019-03-31: 3802020-03-31: 4002021-03-31: 4002022-03-31: 4102023-03-31: 4202024-03-31: 3952025-03-31: 380 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 335 to 420 · axis starts at 325

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

40
33.242.551.82010-03-31: 452011-03-31: 402012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 452015-03-31: 402016-03-31: 452017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 502019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 402025-03-31: 40 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 35 to 50 · axis starts at 33.2

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

10
910112010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 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: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · unchanged at 10 · axis starts at 9

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

205
1752002252010-03-31: 2052011-03-31: 1952012-03-31: 1802013-03-31: 1952014-03-31: 2002015-03-31: 2102016-03-31: 2052017-03-31: 2102018-03-31: 2102019-03-31: 2052020-03-31: 2052021-03-31: 2002022-03-31: 2202023-03-31: 2202024-03-31: 2102025-03-31: 205 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 180 to 220 · axis starts at 175

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

15
8.81521.22010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 15 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10 to 20 · axis starts at 8.8

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

780
7187808422010-03-31: 7302011-03-31: 7502012-03-31: 7652013-03-31: 7552014-03-31: 8002015-03-31: 8302016-03-31: 7752017-03-31: 7752018-03-31: 8002019-03-31: 8052020-03-31: 7902021-03-31: 7802022-03-31: 7552023-03-31: 8102024-03-31: 7902025-03-31: 780 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 730 to 830 · axis starts at 718

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

65
41.46078.62010-03-31: 552011-03-31: 452012-03-31: 552013-03-31: 602014-03-31: 652015-03-31: 602016-03-31: 652017-03-31: 752018-03-31: 652019-03-31: 652020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 602022-03-31: 602023-03-31: 652024-03-31: 602025-03-31: 65 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 45 to 75 · axis starts at 41.4

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: 102013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 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: 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

9,005
6,4468,74011k2010-03-31: 7,1602011-03-31: 6,8902012-03-31: 7,0752013-03-31: 7,1352014-03-31: 7,3952015-03-31: 7,8352016-03-31: 8,4002017-03-31: 8,6452018-03-31: 8,7052019-03-31: 8,9402020-03-31: 10k2021-03-31: 11k2022-03-31: 9,6752023-03-31: 9,3852024-03-31: 9,1802025-03-31: 9,005 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 6,890 to 11k · axis starts at 6,446

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

9,983
2,5506,66411k1998-12-31: 3,3461999-12-31: 3,4172000-12-31: 3,5262001-12-31: 3,7072002-12-31: 4,0102003-12-31: 4,2642004-12-31: 4,7192005-12-31: 5,0012006-12-31: 5,1112007-12-31: 5,4082008-12-31: 5,7392009-12-31: 5,9412010-12-31: 6,1072011-12-31: 6,5642012-12-31: 6,6302013-12-31: 6,7712014-12-31: 6,9752015-12-31: 7,4652016-12-31: 7,5292017-12-31: 8,2772018-12-31: 8,5532019-12-31: 8,8452020-12-31: 8,4612021-12-31: 8,7382022-12-31: 9,0252023-12-31: 9,983 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 3,346 to 9,983 · axis starts at 2,550

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Southampton

Southampton