The Datum Report

Local area

Tower Hamlets

What we think is happening

The business base in Tower Hamlets has been growing.

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

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in Tower Hamlets has been weakening.

strong 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
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 9.0% +2.0 in the top 2% of 169
Businesses employing 50 to 99 people 2025 240 +25 in the top 4% of 182
Businesses 2025 17,225 +780 in the top 1% of 182
Business sites 2025 19,530 +770 in the top 1% of 182
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 34.2% -7.2 in the bottom 1% of 171
Gross value added 2023 44,834 +5,381 in the top 2% of 182
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 9.4% +1.5 in the top 6% of 171

Moving with the rest of the country

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

By subject

Every figure published for Tower Hamlets. 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
9.4%
5.99.713.52020-03-31: 12.72020-06-30: 11.42020-09-30: 9.42020-12-31: 8.72021-03-31: 6.92021-06-30: 6.92021-09-30: 6.92021-12-31: 6.62022-03-31: 7.72022-06-30: 8.32022-09-30: 10.12022-12-31: 10.22023-03-31: 11.32023-06-30: 11.92023-09-30: 12.12023-12-31: 10.72024-03-31: 10.52024-06-30: 9.42024-09-30: 8.12024-12-31: 9.62025-03-31: 9.32025-06-30: 10.32025-09-30: 10.82025-12-31: 7.92026-03-31: 9.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.6 to 12.7 · axis starts at 5.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.2, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
72.7%
65.170.776.32020-03-31: 71.72020-06-30: 73.72020-09-30: 70.02020-12-31: 72.92021-03-31: 75.02021-06-30: 73.32021-09-30: 73.12021-12-31: 72.82022-03-31: 72.12022-06-30: 71.42022-09-30: 72.82022-12-31: 72.82023-03-31: 70.42023-06-30: 70.02023-09-30: 70.32023-12-31: 66.22024-03-31: 68.52024-06-30: 72.02024-09-30: 72.72024-12-31: 75.22025-03-31: 71.72025-06-30: 72.82025-09-30: 72.52025-12-31: 73.62026-03-31: 72.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 66.2 to 75.2 · axis starts at 65.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.8, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
9.0%
2.26.09.72020-03-31: 3.52020-06-30: 2.92020-09-30: 3.52020-12-31: 6.12021-03-31: 5.52021-06-30: 7.42021-09-30: 7.92021-12-31: 5.42022-03-31: 5.32022-06-30: 3.92022-09-30: 3.72022-12-31: 52023-03-31: 4.62023-06-30: 6.92023-09-30: 6.62023-12-31: 7.02024-03-31: 7.52024-06-30: 5.42024-09-30: 5.42024-12-31: 5.22025-03-31: 5.12025-06-30: 4.92025-09-30: 6.62025-12-31: 72026-03-31: 9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 2.9 to 9 · axis starts at 2.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.5, basis not documented by the producer

20.1%
19.024.530.02020-03-31: 25.72020-06-30: 24.22020-09-30: 27.52020-12-31: 22.42021-03-31: 20.62021-06-30: 20.92021-09-30: 20.72021-12-31: 23.02022-03-31: 23.92022-06-30: 25.72022-09-30: 24.42022-12-31: 23.42023-03-31: 26.22023-06-30: 24.82023-09-30: 24.72023-12-31: 28.92024-03-31: 25.92024-06-30: 23.92024-09-30: 23.12024-12-31: 20.72025-03-31: 24.52025-06-30: 23.52025-09-30: 22.42025-12-31: 20.92026-03-31: 20.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 20.1 to 28.9 · axis starts at 19.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.4, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
17,130
6,32315k24k2020-01-31: 8,0102020-02-29: 8,2652020-03-31: 8,3152020-04-30: 15k2020-05-31: 19k2020-06-30: 19k2020-07-31: 20k2020-08-31: 20k2020-09-30: 20k2020-10-31: 20k2020-11-30: 21k2020-12-31: 21k2021-01-31: 21k2021-02-28: 22k2021-03-31: 22k2021-04-30: 22k2021-05-31: 21k2021-06-30: 19k2021-07-31: 19k2021-08-31: 18k2021-09-30: 17k2021-10-31: 17k2021-11-30: 16k2021-12-31: 15k2022-01-31: 14k2022-02-28: 15k2022-03-31: 14k2022-04-30: 13k2022-05-31: 13k2022-06-30: 13k2022-07-31: 12k2022-08-31: 12k2022-09-30: 12k2022-10-31: 12k2022-11-30: 12k2022-12-31: 12k2023-01-31: 12k2023-02-28: 12k2023-03-31: 12k2023-04-30: 12k2023-05-31: 12k2023-06-30: 12k2023-07-31: 13k2023-08-31: 13k2023-09-30: 13k2023-10-31: 13k2023-11-30: 13k2023-12-31: 13k2024-01-31: 13k2024-02-29: 13k2024-03-31: 14k2024-04-30: 13k2024-05-31: 14k2024-06-30: 14k2024-07-31: 16k2024-08-31: 16k2024-09-30: 17k2024-10-31: 17k2024-11-30: 17k2024-12-31: 17k2025-01-31: 17k2025-02-28: 18k2025-03-31: 18k2025-04-30: 17k2025-05-31: 18k2025-06-30: 18k2025-07-31: 17k2025-08-31: 17k2025-09-30: 17k2025-10-31: 17k2025-11-30: 17k2025-12-31: 17k2026-01-31: 16k2026-02-28: 17k2026-03-31: 17k2026-04-30: 17k2026-05-31: 17k2026-06-30: 17k2026-07-31: 17k2026-08-31: 17k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 8,010 to 22k · axis starts at 6,323

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

6.7%
6.46.66.82026-01-31: 6.42026-02-28: 6.62026-03-31: 6.62026-04-30: 6.62026-05-31: 6.82026-06-30: 6.82026-07-31: 6.62026-08-31: 6.7 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 6.4 to 6.8 · axis starts at 6.4

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.

14.0%
8.124.641.02020-03-31: 18.92020-06-30: 21.02020-09-30: 20.12020-12-31: 18.72021-03-31: 18.92021-06-30: 14.62021-09-30: 16.62021-12-31: 14.62022-03-31: 12.02022-06-30: 12.42022-09-30: 13.82022-12-31: 11.32023-03-31: 12.82023-06-30: 17.32023-09-30: 18.12023-12-31: 28.52024-03-31: 33.62024-06-30: 34.62024-09-30: 37.82024-12-31: 33.92025-03-31: 25.32025-06-30: 18.92025-09-30: 12.72025-12-31: 14.62026-03-31: 14 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 11.3 to 37.8 · axis starts at 8.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.3, basis not documented by the producer

25.7%
15.335.555.72020-03-31: 35.32020-06-30: 35.72020-09-30: 40.82020-12-31: 51.82021-03-31: 49.22021-06-30: 44.82021-09-30: 35.62021-12-31: 27.32022-03-31: 28.82022-06-30: 35.02022-09-30: 34.62022-12-31: 41.62023-03-31: 35.32023-06-30: 30.62023-09-30: 31.82023-12-31: 27.12024-03-31: 27.52024-06-30: 28.72024-09-30: 26.42024-12-31: 25.32025-03-31: 24.82025-06-30: 19.42025-09-30: 19.22025-12-31: 26.32026-03-31: 25.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 19.2 to 51.8 · axis starts at 15.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±10.5, basis not documented by the producer

—

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.

34.2%
14.433.853.12020-03-31: 34.82020-06-30: 27.92020-09-30: 24.92020-12-31: 18.12021-03-31: 18.42021-06-30: 292021-09-30: 27.52021-12-31: 40.92022-03-31: 42.52022-06-30: 39.92022-09-30: 40.22022-12-31: 32.82023-03-31: 35.22023-06-30: 33.42023-09-30: 31.22023-12-31: 30.52024-03-31: 26.32024-06-30: 27.22024-09-30: 29.12024-12-31: 29.92025-03-31: 36.32025-06-30: 42.12025-09-30: 49.42025-12-31: 41.42026-03-31: 34.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18.1 to 49.4 · axis starts at 14.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±11.4, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£32,568
11k23k35k1997-12-31: 14k1998-12-31: 14k1999-12-31: 14k2000-12-31: 15k2001-12-31: 16k2002-12-31: 16k2003-12-31: 17k2004-12-31: 17k2005-12-31: 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: 23k2015-12-31: 25k2016-12-31: 26k2017-12-31: 27k2018-12-31: 28k2019-12-31: 29k2020-12-31: 28k2021-12-31: 29k2022-12-31: 30k2023-12-31: 31k2024-12-31: 33k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 14k to 33k · axis starts at 11k

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£3,329
2,2782,8603,4422020-01-31: 2,4442020-02-29: 2,4412020-03-31: 2,4342020-04-30: 2,4022020-05-31: 2,3912020-06-30: 2,4132020-07-31: 2,4522020-08-31: 2,5112020-09-30: 2,5372020-10-31: 2,5662020-11-30: 2,5752020-12-31: 2,6052021-01-31: 2,5702021-02-28: 2,5762021-03-31: 2,6052021-04-30: 2,6212021-05-31: 2,6242021-06-30: 2,6262021-07-31: 2,6212021-08-31: 2,6242021-09-30: 2,6382021-10-31: 2,6442021-11-30: 2,6452021-12-31: 2,6882022-01-31: 2,6442022-02-28: 2,6472022-03-31: 2,7062022-04-30: 2,7062022-05-31: 2,7212022-06-30: 2,7402022-07-31: 2,7722022-08-31: 2,7902022-09-30: 2,8412022-10-31: 2,8322022-11-30: 2,8942022-12-31: 2,9182023-01-31: 2,8782023-02-28: 2,8602023-03-31: 2,8962023-04-30: 2,9032023-05-31: 2,9352023-06-30: 2,9772023-07-31: 2,9592023-08-31: 2,9592023-09-30: 2,9592023-10-31: 2,9592023-11-30: 3,0242023-12-31: 3,0452024-01-31: 2,9982024-02-29: 2,9862024-03-31: 3,0292024-04-30: 3,0072024-05-31: 3,0262024-06-30: 3,0342024-07-31: 3,0502024-08-31: 3,0662024-09-30: 3,0602024-10-31: 3,1292024-11-30: 3,1582024-12-31: 3,1662025-01-31: 3,1292025-02-28: 3,1202025-03-31: 3,1382025-04-30: 3,1572025-05-31: 3,1662025-06-30: 3,1712025-07-31: 3,2092025-08-31: 3,2432025-09-30: 3,2142025-10-31: 3,2252025-11-30: 3,2302025-12-31: 3,2822026-01-31: 3,2432026-02-28: 3,2412026-03-31: 3,2712026-04-30: 3,2872026-05-31: 3,2982026-06-30: 3,3132026-07-31: 3,329 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 2,391 to 3,329 · axis starts at 2,278

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.

171,006
141k160k179k2020-01-31: 154k2020-02-29: 155k2020-03-31: 155k2020-04-30: 151k2020-05-31: 150k2020-06-30: 150k2020-07-31: 149k2020-08-31: 147k2020-09-30: 146k2020-10-31: 146k2020-11-30: 146k2020-12-31: 146k2021-01-31: 144k2021-02-28: 145k2021-03-31: 145k2021-04-30: 147k2021-05-31: 149k2021-06-30: 151k2021-07-31: 153k2021-08-31: 154k2021-09-30: 156k2021-10-31: 158k2021-11-30: 161k2021-12-31: 161k2022-01-31: 161k2022-02-28: 163k2022-03-31: 164k2022-04-30: 165k2022-05-31: 166k2022-06-30: 167k2022-07-31: 168k2022-08-31: 167k2022-09-30: 169k2022-10-31: 171k2022-11-30: 173k2022-12-31: 172k2023-01-31: 171k2023-02-28: 172k2023-03-31: 173k2023-04-30: 172k2023-05-31: 173k2023-06-30: 174k2023-07-31: 174k2023-08-31: 172k2023-09-30: 173k2023-10-31: 174k2023-11-30: 175k2023-12-31: 175k2024-01-31: 173k2024-02-29: 173k2024-03-31: 174k2024-04-30: 172k2024-05-31: 172k2024-06-30: 173k2024-07-31: 173k2024-08-31: 171k2024-09-30: 172k2024-10-31: 173k2024-11-30: 174k2024-12-31: 173k2025-01-31: 172k2025-02-28: 172k2025-03-31: 172k2025-04-30: 171k2025-05-31: 172k2025-06-30: 172k2025-07-31: 172k2025-08-31: 171k2025-09-30: 172k2025-10-31: 173k2025-11-30: 173k2025-12-31: 172k2026-01-31: 171k2026-02-28: 171k2026-03-31: 171k2026-04-30: 170k2026-05-31: 171k2026-06-30: 171k2026-07-31: 171k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 144k to 175k · axis starts at 141k

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
17,225
8,61313k18k2010-03-31: 9,5502011-03-31: 9,7202012-03-31: 11k2013-03-31: 11k2014-03-31: 13k2015-03-31: 14k2016-03-31: 16k2017-03-31: 17k2018-03-31: 17k2019-03-31: 17k2020-03-31: 17k2021-03-31: 17k2022-03-31: 17k2023-03-31: 16k2024-03-31: 16k2025-03-31: 17k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 9,550 to 17k · axis starts at 8,613

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

13,355
6,54511k15k2010-03-31: 7,3352011-03-31: 7,4952012-03-31: 8,3502013-03-31: 8,8702014-03-31: 10k2015-03-31: 11k2016-03-31: 13k2017-03-31: 14k2018-03-31: 14k2019-03-31: 14k2020-03-31: 14k2021-03-31: 13k2022-03-31: 13k2023-03-31: 13k2024-03-31: 13k2025-03-31: 13k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 7,335 to 14k · axis starts at 6,545

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

1,025
4877851,0832010-03-31: 5502011-03-31: 5452012-03-31: 6052013-03-31: 6152014-03-31: 6852015-03-31: 7202016-03-31: 7802017-03-31: 8052018-03-31: 8502019-03-31: 8702020-03-31: 8952021-03-31: 9102022-03-31: 9552023-03-31: 9602024-03-31: 9952025-03-31: 1,025 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 545 to 1,025 · axis starts at 487

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

140
841151462010-03-31: 902011-03-31: 902012-03-31: 952013-03-31: 1002014-03-31: 902015-03-31: 1002016-03-31: 1002017-03-31: 1102018-03-31: 1102019-03-31: 1152020-03-31: 1152021-03-31: 1252022-03-31: 1302023-03-31: 1352024-03-31: 1352025-03-31: 140 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 90 to 140 · axis starts at 84

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

45
22.63547.42010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 302014-03-31: 302015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 402019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 352021-03-31: 352022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 452025-03-31: 45 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25 to 45 · axis starts at 22.6

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

565
2684325972010-03-31: 3102011-03-31: 3002012-03-31: 3302013-03-31: 3852014-03-31: 3802015-03-31: 4252016-03-31: 4402017-03-31: 4702018-03-31: 4902019-03-31: 5202020-03-31: 5402021-03-31: 5202022-03-31: 4952023-03-31: 5452024-03-31: 5352025-03-31: 565 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 300 to 565 · axis starts at 268

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

60
26.44563.62010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 352013-03-31: 352014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 352017-03-31: 302018-03-31: 402019-03-31: 452020-03-31: 502021-03-31: 502022-03-31: 502023-03-31: 452024-03-31: 502025-03-31: 60 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 60 · axis starts at 26.4

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

1,765
9981,4221,8472010-03-31: 1,0802011-03-31: 1,1102012-03-31: 1,2802013-03-31: 1,2752014-03-31: 1,3852015-03-31: 1,5852016-03-31: 1,5302017-03-31: 1,5902018-03-31: 1,6352019-03-31: 1,6452020-03-31: 1,6652021-03-31: 1,7102022-03-31: 1,7652023-03-31: 1,7252024-03-31: 1,6702025-03-31: 1,765 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,080 to 1,765 · axis starts at 998

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

240
94.41752562010-03-31: 1102011-03-31: 1102012-03-31: 1352013-03-31: 1352014-03-31: 1452015-03-31: 1452016-03-31: 1652017-03-31: 1652018-03-31: 1902019-03-31: 1852020-03-31: 1902021-03-31: 1952022-03-31: 1902023-03-31: 2002024-03-31: 2152025-03-31: 240 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 110 to 240 · axis starts at 94.4

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

30
13.222.531.82010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 302023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 30 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 30 · axis starts at 13.2

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

19,530
11k16k21k2010-03-31: 12k2011-03-31: 12k2012-03-31: 13k2013-03-31: 14k2014-03-31: 15k2015-03-31: 17k2016-03-31: 18k2017-03-31: 19k2018-03-31: 19k2019-03-31: 20k2020-03-31: 20k2021-03-31: 19k2022-03-31: 19k2023-03-31: 19k2024-03-31: 19k2025-03-31: 20k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 12k to 20k · axis starts at 11k

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

44,834
8,41229k49k1998-12-31: 12k1999-12-31: 13k2000-12-31: 14k2001-12-31: 14k2002-12-31: 15k2003-12-31: 16k2004-12-31: 17k2005-12-31: 19k2006-12-31: 21k2007-12-31: 24k2008-12-31: 24k2009-12-31: 26k2010-12-31: 27k2011-12-31: 29k2012-12-31: 28k2013-12-31: 30k2014-12-31: 32k2015-12-31: 32k2016-12-31: 34k2017-12-31: 37k2018-12-31: 36k2019-12-31: 36k2020-12-31: 35k2021-12-31: 35k2022-12-31: 39k2023-12-31: 45k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 12k to 45k · axis starts at 8,412

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets