The Datum Report

Local area

Southampton

What we think is happening

Pay in Southampton has been growing.

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

Other standing views

Business

Businesses employing 5 to 9 people in Southampton has been falling.

strong confidence · how we reached this

Labour market

The job market in Southampton has been weakening.

established 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
Businesses employing 5 to 9 people 2026 755 -25 in the bottom 3% of 182

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
2026
7,285
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: 7,2352026-03-31: 7,285 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 4,935 to 8,785 · axis starts at 4,473

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

5,780
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: 5,7302026-03-31: 5,780 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 3,540 to 7,270 · axis starts at 3,092

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

395
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: 3802026-03-31: 395 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 335 to 420 · axis starts at 325

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

35
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: 402026-03-31: 35 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 35 to 50 · axis starts at 33.2

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

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: 102026-03-31: 10 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · unchanged at 10 · axis starts at 9

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

215
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: 2052026-03-31: 215 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 180 to 220 · axis starts at 175

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

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: 152026-03-31: 15 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 10 to 20 · axis starts at 8.8

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

755
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: 7802026-03-31: 755 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 730 to 830 · axis starts at 718

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

70
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: 652026-03-31: 70 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 45 to 75 · axis starts at 41.4

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

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: 102026-03-31: 10 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 5 to 10 · axis starts at 4.4

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

9,035
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: 9,0052026-03-31: 9,035 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 6,890 to 11k · axis starts at 6,446

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

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