The Datum Report

Local area

West Essex

What we think is happening

The job market in West Essex has been weakening.

deteriorating · strong confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

By subject

Every figure published for West Essex. 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
11.5%
8.212.917.52020-03-31: 15.82020-06-30: 15.72020-09-30: 16.62020-12-31: 14.62021-03-31: 13.32021-06-30: 12.92021-09-30: 12.72021-12-31: 12.72022-03-31: 12.32022-06-30: 9.92022-09-30: 9.12022-12-31: 9.42023-03-31: 9.42023-09-30: 9.52024-06-30: 10.22024-09-30: 10.72024-12-31: 9.62025-03-31: 11.42025-06-30: 11.52025-09-30: 10.82025-12-31: 10.42026-03-31: 11.5 2020-03 2026-03
22 monthly readings · 9.1 to 16.6 · axis starts at 8.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.4, basis not documented by the producer
3 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
81.0%
71.377.183.02020-03-31: 78.62020-06-30: 77.82020-09-30: 79.32020-12-31: 75.52021-03-31: 74.92021-06-30: 75.92021-09-30: 76.02021-12-31: 79.22022-03-31: 81.92022-06-30: 80.92022-09-30: 81.02022-12-31: 78.32023-03-31: 75.72023-06-30: 77.02023-09-30: 77.02023-12-31: 74.22024-03-31: 73.22024-06-30: 72.62024-09-30: 72.42024-12-31: 76.62025-03-31: 76.42025-06-30: 79.72025-09-30: 80.72025-12-31: 792026-03-31: 81 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.4 to 81.9 · axis starts at 71.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.2, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.1%
2.93.84.62021-09-30: 4.32021-12-31: 3.72025-12-31: 4.42026-03-31: 3.1 2021-09 2026-03
4 monthly readings · 3.1 to 4.4 · axis starts at 2.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.0, basis not documented by the producer
21 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

16.4%
14.419.123.82020-03-31: 19.22020-06-30: 20.22020-09-30: 19.82020-12-31: 22.52021-03-31: 22.72021-06-30: 21.32021-09-30: 20.62021-12-31: 17.72022-03-31: 15.32022-06-30: 16.92022-09-30: 16.82022-12-31: 19.22023-03-31: 19.92023-06-30: 17.92023-09-30: 18.72023-12-31: 202024-03-31: 21.42024-06-30: 22.92024-09-30: 22.52024-12-31: 19.02025-03-31: 20.02025-06-30: 16.72025-09-30: 15.82025-12-31: 17.32026-03-31: 16.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.3 to 22.9 · axis starts at 14.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.0, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
6,625
3,0647,95013k2020-01-31: 4,0102020-02-29: 4,2102020-03-31: 4,2552020-04-30: 7,6552020-05-31: 12k2020-06-30: 11k2020-07-31: 11k2020-08-31: 12k2020-09-30: 11k2020-10-31: 11k2020-11-30: 11k2020-12-31: 11k2021-01-31: 11k2021-02-28: 12k2021-03-31: 12k2021-04-30: 11k2021-05-31: 10k2021-06-30: 9,2352021-07-31: 9,0852021-08-31: 8,6502021-09-30: 8,0852021-10-31: 7,6852021-11-30: 7,3902021-12-31: 7,1702022-01-31: 7,0252022-02-28: 6,9702022-03-31: 6,6552022-04-30: 6,1252022-05-31: 5,9602022-06-30: 5,7002022-07-31: 5,5902022-08-31: 5,6552022-09-30: 5,6702022-10-31: 5,5452022-11-30: 5,5852022-12-31: 5,5002023-01-31: 5,4502023-02-28: 5,4602023-03-31: 5,5302023-04-30: 5,6102023-05-31: 5,4802023-06-30: 5,5452023-07-31: 5,6502023-08-31: 5,6252023-09-30: 5,6902023-10-31: 5,7802023-11-30: 5,9102023-12-31: 5,9852024-01-31: 6,1152024-02-29: 6,3002024-03-31: 6,3852024-04-30: 6,2752024-05-31: 6,3552024-06-30: 6,4052024-07-31: 6,8102024-08-31: 6,7702024-09-30: 6,6402024-10-31: 6,5452024-11-30: 6,3252024-12-31: 6,3252025-01-31: 6,3152025-02-28: 6,4852025-03-31: 6,4402025-04-30: 6,3002025-05-31: 6,2652025-06-30: 6,3852025-07-31: 6,2252025-08-31: 6,2202025-09-30: 6,2752025-10-31: 6,2302025-11-30: 6,1902025-12-31: 6,1452026-01-31: 6,2302026-02-28: 6,4002026-03-31: 6,4302026-04-30: 6,4302026-05-31: 6,4452026-06-30: 6,5252026-07-31: 6,5252026-08-31: 6,625 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 4,010 to 12k · axis starts at 3,064

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

3.3%
3.13.23.32026-01-31: 3.12026-02-28: 3.12026-03-31: 3.22026-04-30: 3.22026-05-31: 3.22026-06-30: 3.22026-07-31: 3.22026-08-31: 3.3 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.1 to 3.3 · axis starts at 3.1

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.

20.1%
18.721.925.02023-03-31: 20.72023-06-30: 24.42023-12-31: 24.32025-12-31: 19.32026-03-31: 20.1 2023-03 2026-03
5 monthly readings · 19.3 to 24.4 · axis starts at 18.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±10.2, basis not documented by the producer
20 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

14.4%
10.315.420.52021-06-30: 15.52021-09-30: 19.52021-12-31: 18.82025-12-31: 11.32026-03-31: 14.4 2021-06 2026-03
5 monthly readings · 11.3 to 19.5 · axis starts at 10.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
20 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

10.7%
7.821.936.12021-09-30: 13.52021-12-31: 16.72022-03-31: 23.02022-06-30: 27.92022-09-30: 33.32025-12-31: 10.52026-03-31: 10.7 2021-09 2026-03
7 monthly readings · 10.5 to 33.3 · axis starts at 7.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
18 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

35.3%
23.931.238.52020-03-31: 25.32021-06-30: 31.02022-03-31: 28.62024-06-30: 26.02024-09-30: 33.12025-12-31: 37.12026-03-31: 35.3 2020-03 2026-03
7 monthly readings · 25.3 to 37.1 · axis starts at 23.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±12.2, basis not documented by the producer
18 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£31,401
11k22k34k1997-12-31: 13k1998-12-31: 13k1999-12-31: 14k2000-12-31: 15k2001-12-31: 15k2002-12-31: 15k2003-12-31: 16k2004-12-31: 16k2005-12-31: 17k2006-12-31: 17k2007-12-31: 18k2008-12-31: 19k2009-12-31: 19k2010-12-31: 19k2011-12-31: 19k2012-12-31: 20k2013-12-31: 20k2014-12-31: 20k2015-12-31: 23k2016-12-31: 23k2017-12-31: 24k2018-12-31: 26k2019-12-31: 26k2020-12-31: 25k2021-12-31: 27k2022-12-31: 28k2023-12-31: 30k2024-12-31: 31k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 13k to 31k · axis starts at 11k

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,830
1,8802,4062,9322020-01-31: 2,0292020-02-29: 2,0292020-03-31: 2,0332020-04-30: 1,9822020-05-31: 1,9862020-06-30: 2,0092020-07-31: 2,0292020-08-31: 2,0532020-09-30: 2,0792020-10-31: 2,0972020-11-30: 2,1052020-12-31: 2,1212021-01-31: 2,1022021-02-28: 2,1102021-03-31: 2,1372021-04-30: 2,1492021-05-31: 2,1502021-06-30: 2,1652021-07-31: 2,1672021-08-31: 2,1692021-09-30: 2,1982021-10-31: 2,2082021-11-30: 2,2172021-12-31: 2,2602022-01-31: 2,2302022-02-28: 2,2322022-03-31: 2,2482022-04-30: 2,2702022-05-31: 2,2882022-06-30: 2,2992022-07-31: 2,3002022-08-31: 2,3122022-09-30: 2,3592022-10-31: 2,3602022-11-30: 2,4022022-12-31: 2,4182023-01-31: 2,3782023-02-28: 2,3822023-03-31: 2,4022023-04-30: 2,4202023-05-31: 2,4562023-06-30: 2,5132023-07-31: 2,4602023-08-31: 2,4602023-09-30: 2,4782023-10-31: 2,4872023-11-30: 2,5352023-12-31: 2,5372024-01-31: 2,5142024-02-29: 2,5182024-03-31: 2,5372024-04-30: 2,5532024-05-31: 2,5642024-06-30: 2,5582024-07-31: 2,5672024-08-31: 2,5772024-09-30: 2,5872024-10-31: 2,6382024-11-30: 2,6622024-12-31: 2,6582025-01-31: 2,6272025-02-28: 2,6342025-03-31: 2,6542025-04-30: 2,6912025-05-31: 2,7042025-06-30: 2,7012025-07-31: 2,7062025-08-31: 2,7252025-09-30: 2,7232025-10-31: 2,7312025-11-30: 2,7432025-12-31: 2,7732026-01-31: 2,7462026-02-28: 2,7522026-03-31: 2,7892026-04-30: 2,8162026-05-31: 2,8252026-06-30: 2,8222026-07-31: 2,830 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,982 to 2,830 · axis starts at 1,880

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.

150,785
137k145k153k2020-01-31: 143k2020-02-29: 143k2020-03-31: 143k2020-04-30: 142k2020-05-31: 141k2020-06-30: 141k2020-07-31: 141k2020-08-31: 141k2020-09-30: 141k2020-10-31: 140k2020-11-30: 140k2020-12-31: 140k2021-01-31: 139k2021-02-28: 139k2021-03-31: 139k2021-04-30: 140k2021-05-31: 142k2021-06-30: 143k2021-07-31: 143k2021-08-31: 144k2021-09-30: 144k2021-10-31: 144k2021-11-30: 145k2021-12-31: 144k2022-01-31: 144k2022-02-28: 144k2022-03-31: 145k2022-04-30: 145k2022-05-31: 146k2022-06-30: 146k2022-07-31: 147k2022-08-31: 147k2022-09-30: 147k2022-10-31: 147k2022-11-30: 148k2022-12-31: 148k2023-01-31: 147k2023-02-28: 147k2023-03-31: 148k2023-04-30: 149k2023-05-31: 149k2023-06-30: 150k2023-07-31: 150k2023-08-31: 150k2023-09-30: 150k2023-10-31: 150k2023-11-30: 150k2023-12-31: 150k2024-01-31: 149k2024-02-29: 149k2024-03-31: 150k2024-04-30: 150k2024-05-31: 151k2024-06-30: 151k2024-07-31: 151k2024-08-31: 151k2024-09-30: 151k2024-10-31: 151k2024-11-30: 151k2024-12-31: 151k2025-01-31: 150k2025-02-28: 150k2025-03-31: 150k2025-04-30: 150k2025-05-31: 151k2025-06-30: 151k2025-07-31: 151k2025-08-31: 151k2025-09-30: 151k2025-10-31: 151k2025-11-30: 151k2025-12-31: 150k2026-01-31: 150k2026-02-28: 149k2026-03-31: 150k2026-04-30: 150k2026-05-31: 150k2026-06-30: 151k2026-07-31: 151k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 139k to 151k · axis starts at 137k

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
17,690
12k15k18k2010-03-31: 13k2011-03-31: 13k2012-03-31: 13k2013-03-31: 13k2014-03-31: 14k2015-03-31: 15k2016-03-31: 16k2017-03-31: 16k2018-03-31: 16k2019-03-31: 17k2020-03-31: 17k2021-03-31: 17k2022-03-31: 17k2023-03-31: 17k2024-03-31: 17k2025-03-31: 18k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 13k to 18k · axis starts at 12k

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

14,165
9,45512k15k2010-03-31: 10k2011-03-31: 9,9602012-03-31: 10k2013-03-31: 10k2014-03-31: 11k2015-03-31: 12k2016-03-31: 12k2017-03-31: 13k2018-03-31: 13k2019-03-31: 13k2020-03-31: 14k2021-03-31: 14k2022-03-31: 14k2023-03-31: 14k2024-03-31: 14k2025-03-31: 14k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 9,960 to 14k · axis starts at 9,455

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

880
6397729062010-03-31: 6652011-03-31: 6802012-03-31: 7102013-03-31: 7302014-03-31: 7452015-03-31: 7852016-03-31: 7802017-03-31: 8202018-03-31: 8452019-03-31: 8152020-03-31: 7902021-03-31: 8252022-03-31: 8402023-03-31: 8602024-03-31: 8652025-03-31: 880 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 665 to 880 · axis starts at 639

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

75
35.26084.82010-03-31: 402011-03-31: 402012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 552014-03-31: 602015-03-31: 702016-03-31: 602017-03-31: 702018-03-31: 752019-03-31: 752020-03-31: 802021-03-31: 752022-03-31: 652023-03-31: 702024-03-31: 702025-03-31: 75 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 40 to 80 · axis starts at 35.2

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

5
3.81016.22010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 52023-03-31: 52024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 5 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

465
2994085162010-03-31: 3202011-03-31: 3252012-03-31: 3352013-03-31: 3652014-03-31: 3752015-03-31: 3852016-03-31: 3952017-03-31: 4152018-03-31: 4252019-03-31: 4252020-03-31: 4352021-03-31: 4252022-03-31: 4702023-03-31: 4952024-03-31: 4702025-03-31: 465 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 320 to 495 · axis starts at 299

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

25
18.82531.22010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 302014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 302018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 252023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 25 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 30 · axis starts at 18.8

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

1,900
1,4741,7101,9462010-03-31: 1,5502011-03-31: 1,5202012-03-31: 1,6202013-03-31: 1,6152014-03-31: 1,6902015-03-31: 1,7802016-03-31: 1,7252017-03-31: 1,7302018-03-31: 1,7952019-03-31: 1,7952020-03-31: 1,7902021-03-31: 1,7902022-03-31: 1,8452023-03-31: 1,8252024-03-31: 1,8502025-03-31: 1,900 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,520 to 1,900 · axis starts at 1,474

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

160
87.21281682010-03-31: 952011-03-31: 1002012-03-31: 1052013-03-31: 1202014-03-31: 1252015-03-31: 1252016-03-31: 1302017-03-31: 1352018-03-31: 1402019-03-31: 1452020-03-31: 1452021-03-31: 1452022-03-31: 1402023-03-31: 1552024-03-31: 1602025-03-31: 160 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 95 to 160 · axis starts at 87.2

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

15
3.81016.22010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 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: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 15 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

19,250
14k17k20k2010-03-31: 15k2011-03-31: 14k2012-03-31: 15k2013-03-31: 15k2014-03-31: 15k2015-03-31: 16k2016-03-31: 17k2017-03-31: 18k2018-03-31: 18k2019-03-31: 18k2020-03-31: 18k2021-03-31: 19k2022-03-31: 19k2023-03-31: 19k2024-03-31: 19k2025-03-31: 19k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 14k to 19k · axis starts at 14k

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

10,374
3,4117,26611k1998-12-31: 4,1571999-12-31: 4,3092000-12-31: 4,5282001-12-31: 4,8362002-12-31: 5,0872003-12-31: 5,5832004-12-31: 5,7312005-12-31: 5,8982006-12-31: 6,1562007-12-31: 6,3902008-12-31: 6,5252009-12-31: 6,2532010-12-31: 6,5232011-12-31: 6,3812012-12-31: 6,3902013-12-31: 6,6022014-12-31: 6,7832015-12-31: 7,2772016-12-31: 7,7512017-12-31: 8,3622018-12-31: 8,6432019-12-31: 8,6322020-12-31: 7,6812021-12-31: 8,7832022-12-31: 9,5652023-12-31: 10k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 4,157 to 10k · axis starts at 3,411

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West Essex

Epping Forest · Harlow · Uttlesford