The Datum Report

Local area

Southend-on-Sea

What we think is happening

The job market in Southend-on-Sea 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
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 34.4% +6.3 in the top 4% of 171
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 7.5% -4.9 in the bottom 2% of 165

By subject

Every figure published for Southend-on-Sea. 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
10.7%
6.211.216.12020-03-31: 14.32020-06-30: 13.92020-09-30: 14.52020-12-31: 12.52021-03-31: 12.62021-06-30: 12.82021-09-30: 14.32021-12-31: 13.22022-03-31: 12.92022-06-30: 10.22022-09-30: 10.02022-12-31: 10.32023-03-31: 9.32023-06-30: 9.72023-09-30: 7.22023-12-31: 7.22024-03-31: 8.52024-06-30: 8.62024-09-30: 10.42024-12-31: 12.62025-03-31: 12.72025-06-30: 15.22025-09-30: 11.92025-12-31: 10.72026-03-31: 10.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.2 to 15.2 · axis starts at 6.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.5, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
79.2%
73.680.487.22020-03-31: 77.52020-06-30: 78.82020-09-30: 79.22020-12-31: 78.82021-03-31: 79.12021-06-30: 78.32021-09-30: 77.92021-12-31: 78.92022-03-31: 77.62022-06-30: 76.82022-09-30: 78.02022-12-31: 75.72023-03-31: 78.32023-06-30: 75.72023-09-30: 74.92023-12-31: 75.62024-03-31: 76.82024-06-30: 78.42024-09-30: 80.02024-12-31: 81.52025-03-31: 82.02025-06-30: 85.92025-09-30: 82.42025-12-31: 80.22026-03-31: 79.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 74.9 to 85.9 · axis starts at 73.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.3, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
4.6%
1.13.55.82020-03-31: 3.92020-06-30: 4.02020-09-30: 3.12020-12-31: 4.62021-03-31: 5.42021-06-30: 4.92021-09-30: 5.02021-12-31: 3.62022-03-31: 3.62022-06-30: 3.62022-09-30: 2.92022-12-31: 1.72023-03-31: 1.62023-06-30: 2.32023-09-30: 3.82023-12-31: 4.42024-03-31: 3.32024-06-30: 4.22024-09-30: 3.12024-12-31: 3.42025-03-31: 4.22025-06-30: 2.82025-09-30: 4.12025-12-31: 3.72026-03-31: 4.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 1.6 to 5.4 · axis starts at 1.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.9, basis not documented by the producer

17.0%
10.217.324.42020-03-31: 19.42020-06-30: 17.92020-09-30: 18.22020-12-31: 17.22021-03-31: 16.52021-06-30: 17.62021-09-30: 17.92021-12-31: 18.12022-03-31: 19.52022-06-30: 20.32022-09-30: 19.72022-12-31: 23.02023-03-31: 20.52023-06-30: 22.42023-09-30: 22.22023-12-31: 20.92024-03-31: 20.62024-06-30: 18.32024-09-30: 17.52024-12-31: 15.62025-03-31: 14.52025-06-30: 11.62025-09-30: 14.02025-12-31: 16.82026-03-31: 17 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 11.6 to 23.0 · axis starts at 10.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.1, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
4,785
3,5156,5629,6102020-01-31: 4,1052020-02-29: 4,3052020-03-31: 4,4002020-04-30: 6,8652020-05-31: 8,9352020-06-30: 8,5602020-07-31: 8,8802020-08-31: 8,9802020-09-30: 8,8402020-10-31: 8,4652020-11-30: 8,6952020-12-31: 8,7452021-01-31: 8,4752021-02-28: 9,0152021-03-31: 9,0202021-04-30: 8,7002021-05-31: 7,8802021-06-30: 7,3502021-07-31: 7,3052021-08-31: 7,0402021-09-30: 6,6602021-10-31: 6,4102021-11-30: 6,2102021-12-31: 6,0452022-01-31: 5,8602022-02-28: 5,8902022-03-31: 5,6452022-04-30: 5,3052022-05-31: 5,1202022-06-30: 4,9702022-07-31: 4,7752022-08-31: 4,7702022-09-30: 4,7352022-10-31: 4,6502022-11-30: 4,7352022-12-31: 4,7302023-01-31: 4,7002023-02-28: 4,6852023-03-31: 4,7702023-04-30: 4,8702023-05-31: 4,8052023-06-30: 4,8002023-07-31: 4,7502023-08-31: 4,6502023-09-30: 4,6252023-10-31: 4,6402023-11-30: 4,8302023-12-31: 4,8202024-01-31: 4,8252024-02-29: 4,9602024-03-31: 5,0102024-04-30: 4,8352024-05-31: 4,7902024-06-30: 4,8152024-07-31: 5,1952024-08-31: 5,1202024-09-30: 5,1802024-10-31: 5,2002024-11-30: 5,1202024-12-31: 4,9752025-01-31: 5,0002025-02-28: 5,1252025-03-31: 5,1202025-04-30: 4,9652025-05-31: 4,8502025-06-30: 4,8852025-07-31: 4,7402025-08-31: 4,7602025-09-30: 4,7252025-10-31: 4,8052025-11-30: 4,9002025-12-31: 4,8152026-01-31: 4,8252026-02-28: 4,9202026-03-31: 4,9802026-04-30: 4,9002026-05-31: 4,8202026-06-30: 4,7852026-07-31: 4,6902026-08-31: 4,785 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 4,105 to 9,020 · axis starts at 3,515

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

4.2%
4.14.24.42026-01-31: 4.22026-02-28: 4.32026-03-31: 4.42026-04-30: 4.32026-05-31: 4.22026-06-30: 4.22026-07-31: 4.12026-08-31: 4.2 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 4.1 to 4.4 · 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.

34.4%
14.525.536.52020-03-31: 22.22020-06-30: 23.42020-09-30: 23.42020-12-31: 18.72021-03-31: 17.92021-06-30: 23.02021-09-30: 25.52021-12-31: 28.12022-03-31: 31.82022-06-30: 29.72022-09-30: 29.02022-12-31: 29.52023-03-31: 23.22023-06-30: 24.72023-09-30: 20.82023-12-31: 20.32024-03-31: 31.12024-06-30: 24.42024-09-30: 27.52024-12-31: 31.82025-03-31: 26.52025-06-30: 16.72025-09-30: 26.42025-12-31: 28.12026-03-31: 34.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.7 to 34.4 · axis starts at 14.5

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

20.2%
11.919.627.32020-03-31: 23.62020-06-30: 21.42020-09-30: 21.02020-12-31: 25.42021-03-31: 23.42021-06-30: 21.92021-09-30: 17.52021-12-31: 14.32022-03-31: 14.52022-06-30: 17.02022-09-30: 17.92022-12-31: 22.22023-03-31: 19.32023-06-30: 18.02023-09-30: 25.22023-12-31: 23.62024-03-31: 18.52024-06-30: 21.52024-09-30: 182024-12-31: 13.42025-03-31: 15.12025-06-30: 14.42025-09-30: 25.82025-12-31: 192026-03-31: 20.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.4 to 25.8 · axis starts at 11.9

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

7.5%
6.013.721.42020-03-31: 17.12020-06-30: 19.42020-09-30: 16.62020-12-31: 16.62021-03-31: 17.42021-06-30: 13.82021-09-30: 152021-12-31: 16.72022-03-31: 152022-06-30: 18.82022-09-30: 18.82022-12-31: 7.72023-03-31: 15.92023-06-30: 11.42023-09-30: 102023-12-31: 11.82024-03-31: 11.32024-06-30: 12.42024-09-30: 142024-12-31: 16.82025-03-31: 19.92025-06-30: 15.22025-09-30: 10.12025-12-31: 12.42026-03-31: 7.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.5 to 19.9 · axis starts at 6.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.0, basis not documented by the producer

20.1%
12.021.931.72020-03-31: 17.12020-06-30: 13.92020-09-30: 14.62020-12-31: 16.12021-03-31: 22.82021-06-30: 21.42021-09-30: 22.52021-12-31: 21.72022-03-31: 18.22022-06-30: 15.72022-09-30: 17.02022-12-31: 16.52023-03-31: 22.72023-06-30: 29.82023-09-30: 27.62023-12-31: 28.32024-03-31: 24.82024-06-30: 27.82024-09-30: 24.52024-12-31: 23.52025-03-31: 21.12025-06-30: 15.22025-09-30: 15.12025-12-31: 23.62026-03-31: 20.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.9 to 29.8 · axis starts at 12.0

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

Pay 3
£26,130
8,92818k28k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 14k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 14k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 15k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 16k2011-12-31: 16k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 17k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 19k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 20k2019-12-31: 21k2020-12-31: 21k2021-12-31: 22k2022-12-31: 23k2023-12-31: 25k2024-12-31: 26k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 26k · axis starts at 8,928

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,708
1,7062,2602,8152020-01-31: 1,8582020-02-29: 1,8602020-03-31: 1,8602020-04-30: 1,8132020-05-31: 1,8422020-06-30: 1,8552020-07-31: 1,8752020-08-31: 1,8972020-09-30: 1,9272020-10-31: 1,9362020-11-30: 1,9402020-12-31: 1,9692021-01-31: 1,9452021-02-28: 1,9482021-03-31: 1,9692021-04-30: 1,9982021-05-31: 1,9842021-06-30: 2,0052021-07-31: 1,9952021-08-31: 2,0092021-09-30: 2,0292021-10-31: 2,0292021-11-30: 2,0402021-12-31: 2,0852022-01-31: 2,0502022-02-28: 2,0582022-03-31: 2,0842022-04-30: 2,1042022-05-31: 2,1112022-06-30: 2,1142022-07-31: 2,1162022-08-31: 2,1372022-09-30: 2,1912022-10-31: 2,1772022-11-30: 2,2222022-12-31: 2,2762023-01-31: 2,2272023-02-28: 2,2032023-03-31: 2,2342023-04-30: 2,2612023-05-31: 2,2982023-06-30: 2,3552023-07-31: 2,2932023-08-31: 2,3002023-09-30: 2,3082023-10-31: 2,3042023-11-30: 2,3192023-12-31: 2,3682024-01-31: 2,3502024-02-29: 2,3562024-03-31: 2,3732024-04-30: 2,4042024-05-31: 2,4262024-06-30: 2,4302024-07-31: 2,4222024-08-31: 2,4402024-09-30: 2,4402024-10-31: 2,5142024-11-30: 2,5332024-12-31: 2,5222025-01-31: 2,4962025-02-28: 2,4952025-03-31: 2,5142025-04-30: 2,5402025-05-31: 2,5682025-06-30: 2,5702025-07-31: 2,5722025-08-31: 2,6052025-09-30: 2,6002025-10-31: 2,6092025-11-30: 2,6122025-12-31: 2,6392026-01-31: 2,6242026-02-28: 2,6242026-03-31: 2,6502026-04-30: 2,6932026-05-31: 2,7062026-06-30: 2,7072026-07-31: 2,708 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,813 to 2,708 · axis starts at 1,706

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.

80,183
73k77k82k2020-01-31: 76k2020-02-29: 76k2020-03-31: 76k2020-04-30: 75k2020-05-31: 75k2020-06-30: 75k2020-07-31: 75k2020-08-31: 75k2020-09-30: 75k2020-10-31: 75k2020-11-30: 75k2020-12-31: 74k2021-01-31: 74k2021-02-28: 74k2021-03-31: 74k2021-04-30: 75k2021-05-31: 75k2021-06-30: 76k2021-07-31: 76k2021-08-31: 76k2021-09-30: 76k2021-10-31: 76k2021-11-30: 77k2021-12-31: 77k2022-01-31: 76k2022-02-28: 76k2022-03-31: 77k2022-04-30: 77k2022-05-31: 77k2022-06-30: 78k2022-07-31: 78k2022-08-31: 78k2022-09-30: 78k2022-10-31: 78k2022-11-30: 78k2022-12-31: 78k2023-01-31: 78k2023-02-28: 78k2023-03-31: 78k2023-04-30: 79k2023-05-31: 79k2023-06-30: 79k2023-07-31: 80k2023-08-31: 79k2023-09-30: 79k2023-10-31: 79k2023-11-30: 80k2023-12-31: 79k2024-01-31: 79k2024-02-29: 79k2024-03-31: 79k2024-04-30: 80k2024-05-31: 80k2024-06-30: 81k2024-07-31: 81k2024-08-31: 81k2024-09-30: 81k2024-10-31: 81k2024-11-30: 81k2024-12-31: 80k2025-01-31: 80k2025-02-28: 80k2025-03-31: 80k2025-04-30: 80k2025-05-31: 80k2025-06-30: 81k2025-07-31: 81k2025-08-31: 80k2025-09-30: 80k2025-10-31: 80k2025-11-30: 80k2025-12-31: 80k2026-01-31: 79k2026-02-28: 79k2026-03-31: 80k2026-04-30: 80k2026-05-31: 80k2026-06-30: 80k2026-07-31: 80k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 74k to 81k · axis starts at 73k

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
6,975
5,0506,1887,3252010-03-31: 5,3852011-03-31: 5,2702012-03-31: 5,5702013-03-31: 5,6352014-03-31: 5,9052015-03-31: 6,4802016-03-31: 6,7402017-03-31: 6,9602018-03-31: 6,8502019-03-31: 6,9602020-03-31: 6,9902021-03-31: 6,9552022-03-31: 7,1052023-03-31: 7,0252024-03-31: 6,9152025-03-31: 6,975 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5,270 to 7,105 · axis starts at 5,050

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

5,635
3,8704,9055,9402010-03-31: 4,1802011-03-31: 4,0702012-03-31: 4,3302013-03-31: 4,3902014-03-31: 4,6002015-03-31: 5,1102016-03-31: 5,4202017-03-31: 5,6202018-03-31: 5,5102019-03-31: 5,6152020-03-31: 5,6652021-03-31: 5,6402022-03-31: 5,7402023-03-31: 5,5752024-03-31: 5,5452025-03-31: 5,635 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,070 to 5,740 · axis starts at 3,870

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

350
2803323852010-03-31: 2902011-03-31: 2902012-03-31: 3102013-03-31: 3202014-03-31: 3252015-03-31: 3402016-03-31: 3352017-03-31: 3352018-03-31: 3552019-03-31: 3602020-03-31: 3352021-03-31: 3452022-03-31: 3752023-03-31: 3552024-03-31: 3502025-03-31: 350 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 290 to 375 · axis starts at 280

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

30
23.83036.22010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 302014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 302021-03-31: 302022-03-31: 302023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 30 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25 to 35 · axis starts at 23.8

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

5
4.555.52010-03-31: 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: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · unchanged at 5 · axis starts at 4.5

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

175
1461681892010-03-31: 1502011-03-31: 1502012-03-31: 1502013-03-31: 1602014-03-31: 1752015-03-31: 1752016-03-31: 1702017-03-31: 1752018-03-31: 1602019-03-31: 1702020-03-31: 1702021-03-31: 1652022-03-31: 1652023-03-31: 1852024-03-31: 1852025-03-31: 175 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 150 to 185 · axis starts at 146

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

10
9.412.515.62010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 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

715
6487358222010-03-31: 6752011-03-31: 6752012-03-31: 6802013-03-31: 6652014-03-31: 7102015-03-31: 7552016-03-31: 7152017-03-31: 7352018-03-31: 7252019-03-31: 7102020-03-31: 7202021-03-31: 7102022-03-31: 7252023-03-31: 8052024-03-31: 7402025-03-31: 715 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 665 to 805 · axis starts at 648

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

50
43.85056.22010-03-31: 452011-03-31: 452012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 452014-03-31: 452015-03-31: 502016-03-31: 452017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 452019-03-31: 502020-03-31: 502021-03-31: 452022-03-31: 502023-03-31: 552024-03-31: 452025-03-31: 50 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 45 to 55 · axis starts at 43.8

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

5
05.611.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 02015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 02021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 52023-03-31: 52024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 10

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

7,850
6,0927,1658,2382010-03-31: 6,4502011-03-31: 6,3002012-03-31: 6,5552013-03-31: 6,6002014-03-31: 6,8752015-03-31: 7,4452016-03-31: 7,6552017-03-31: 7,8852018-03-31: 7,7652019-03-31: 7,8902020-03-31: 7,9302021-03-31: 7,8802022-03-31: 8,0302023-03-31: 7,9302024-03-31: 7,7952025-03-31: 7,850 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 6,300 to 8,030 · axis starts at 6,092

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

3,421
1,2972,4733,6491998-12-31: 1,5251999-12-31: 1,5782000-12-31: 1,6482001-12-31: 1,7622002-12-31: 1,8432003-12-31: 1,9942004-12-31: 2,0892005-12-31: 2,1572006-12-31: 2,2922007-12-31: 2,3782008-12-31: 2,4652009-12-31: 2,4722010-12-31: 2,4912011-12-31: 2,4922012-12-31: 2,5772013-12-31: 2,6012014-12-31: 2,6932015-12-31: 2,7132016-12-31: 2,8222017-12-31: 3,0412018-12-31: 3,1522019-12-31: 3,0792020-12-31: 2,7282021-12-31: 3,0732022-12-31: 3,1632023-12-31: 3,421 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 1,525 to 3,421 · axis starts at 1,297

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea