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

Moving with the rest of the country

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

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
2026
18,110
12k15k19k2010-03-31: 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: 18k2026-03-31: 18k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 13k to 18k · axis starts at 12k

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

14,520
9,41312k15k2010-03-31: 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: 14k2026-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 9,960 to 15k · axis starts at 9,413

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

915
6357909452010-03-31: 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: 8802026-03-31: 915 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 665 to 915 · axis starts at 635

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

80
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: 752026-03-31: 80 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 40 to 80 · axis starts at 35.2

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

10
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: 52026-03-31: 10 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 5 to 15 · axis starts at 3.8

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

475
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: 4652026-03-31: 475 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 320 to 495 · axis starts at 299

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

30
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: 252026-03-31: 30 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 20 to 30 · axis starts at 18.8

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

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: 1,9002026-03-31: 1,900 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 1,520 to 1,900 · axis starts at 1,474

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

170
861321792010-03-31: 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: 1602026-03-31: 170 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 95 to 170 · axis starts at 86

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

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: 152026-03-31: 15 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 5 to 15 · axis starts at 3.8

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

19,675
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: 19k2026-03-31: 20k 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 14k to 20k · axis starts at 14k

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

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