The Datum Report

Local area

West Kent

What we think is happening

The number claiming unemployment benefits in West Kent has been rising, though other measures here have run the other way.

mixed · tentative 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
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 9.2% +1.4 in the top 7% of 171

Moving with the rest of the country

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

By subject

Every figure published for West Kent. 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
9.2%
6.613.019.32020-03-31: 14.62020-06-30: 16.12020-09-30: 15.42020-12-31: 16.52021-03-31: 16.72021-06-30: 15.72021-09-30: 18.12021-12-31: 16.62022-03-31: 16.02022-06-30: 14.72022-09-30: 13.72022-12-31: 13.92023-03-31: 12.62023-06-30: 12.52023-09-30: 13.52023-12-31: 14.62024-03-31: 14.62024-06-30: 13.82024-09-30: 11.02024-12-31: 10.42025-03-31: 10.52025-06-30: 10.72025-09-30: 9.72025-12-31: 7.82026-03-31: 9.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.8 to 18.1 · axis starts at 6.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.8, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
74.5%
71.278.385.52020-03-31: 78.62020-06-30: 77.42020-09-30: 76.52020-12-31: 78.72021-03-31: 80.72021-06-30: 81.32021-09-30: 81.02021-12-31: 76.12022-03-31: 73.52022-06-30: 74.02022-09-30: 72.72022-12-31: 72.62023-03-31: 75.42023-06-30: 75.72023-09-30: 81.02023-12-31: 81.42024-03-31: 82.62024-06-30: 84.12024-09-30: 80.82024-12-31: 81.92025-03-31: 80.72025-06-30: 79.32025-09-30: 78.52025-12-31: 74.12026-03-31: 74.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.6 to 84.1 · axis starts at 71.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.3, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
5.2%
4.855.22025-12-31: 4.82026-03-31: 5.2 2025-12 2026-03
2 monthly readings · 4.8 to 5.2 · axis starts at 4.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.5, basis not documented by the producer
23 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

21.4%
12.219.226.12020-03-31: 16.82020-06-30: 18.02020-09-30: 20.62020-12-31: 17.62021-03-31: 17.12021-06-30: 16.42021-09-30: 17.12021-12-31: 22.42022-03-31: 24.22022-06-30: 23.42022-09-30: 24.82022-12-31: 24.42023-03-31: 22.42023-06-30: 22.72023-09-30: 17.52023-12-31: 17.72024-03-31: 16.12024-06-30: 13.62024-09-30: 16.12024-12-31: 15.52025-03-31: 17.02025-06-30: 18.32025-09-30: 19.02025-12-31: 22.22026-03-31: 21.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.6 to 24.8 · axis starts at 12.2

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

Claimant count
August 2026
5,575
2,4356,56711k2020-01-31: 3,2352020-02-29: 3,3702020-03-31: 3,4102020-04-30: 7,0502020-05-31: 9,9002020-06-30: 9,1252020-07-31: 9,4752020-08-31: 9,7902020-09-30: 9,7452020-10-31: 9,2402020-11-30: 9,2552020-12-31: 9,2902021-01-31: 9,0252021-02-28: 9,6452021-03-31: 9,5052021-04-30: 9,3152021-05-31: 8,4902021-06-30: 7,6452021-07-31: 7,5152021-08-31: 7,2152021-09-30: 6,7152021-10-31: 6,3352021-11-30: 6,0752021-12-31: 5,7702022-01-31: 5,5752022-02-28: 5,4602022-03-31: 5,2552022-04-30: 4,9502022-05-31: 4,8352022-06-30: 4,7252022-07-31: 4,6702022-08-31: 4,6252022-09-30: 4,5752022-10-31: 4,5852022-11-30: 4,6052022-12-31: 4,6652023-01-31: 4,5602023-02-28: 4,6002023-03-31: 4,7002023-04-30: 4,8802023-05-31: 4,7102023-06-30: 4,7202023-07-31: 4,7752023-08-31: 4,7602023-09-30: 4,7752023-10-31: 4,8252023-11-30: 4,8302023-12-31: 4,8752024-01-31: 4,8052024-02-29: 4,9752024-03-31: 4,9302024-04-30: 4,8602024-05-31: 4,8752024-06-30: 4,8552024-07-31: 5,2052024-08-31: 5,1402024-09-30: 5,2902024-10-31: 5,3002024-11-30: 5,2402024-12-31: 5,1652025-01-31: 5,2002025-02-28: 5,3602025-03-31: 5,3452025-04-30: 5,1652025-05-31: 5,1052025-06-30: 5,1352025-07-31: 5,0902025-08-31: 5,0502025-09-30: 5,1752025-10-31: 5,2352025-11-30: 5,2002025-12-31: 5,1402026-01-31: 5,1752026-02-28: 5,4102026-03-31: 5,4852026-04-30: 5,4902026-05-31: 5,5302026-06-30: 5,4952026-07-31: 5,4802026-08-31: 5,575 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 3,235 to 9,900 · axis starts at 2,435

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

2.5%
2.32.42.52026-01-31: 2.32026-02-28: 2.42026-03-31: 2.42026-04-30: 2.42026-05-31: 2.42026-06-30: 2.42026-07-31: 2.42026-08-31: 2.5 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.3 to 2.5 · axis starts at 2.3

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.

18.8%
10.716.422.12020-12-31: 14.72021-03-31: 20.12021-06-30: 14.82021-09-30: 15.22021-12-31: 11.82022-03-31: 16.82022-06-30: 19.32022-09-30: 19.02022-12-31: 21.02025-12-31: 16.72026-03-31: 18.8 2020-12 2026-03
11 monthly readings · 11.8 to 21.0 · axis starts at 10.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.0, basis not documented by the producer
14 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

26.0%
10.820.229.52020-09-30: 20.82020-12-31: 20.42021-06-30: 15.32021-09-30: 13.62021-12-31: 12.62022-03-31: 13.42022-06-30: 13.92022-09-30: 15.52022-12-31: 17.82023-03-31: 15.42023-06-30: 17.02024-12-31: 18.72025-03-31: 22.52025-06-30: 18.82025-09-30: 22.32025-12-31: 27.72026-03-31: 26 2020-09 2026-03
17 monthly readings · 12.6 to 27.7 · axis starts at 10.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.0, basis not documented by the producer
8 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

12.0%
10.020.531.12021-12-31: 16.32022-03-31: 16.22022-06-30: 20.32022-09-30: 23.02022-12-31: 26.32023-03-31: 29.12023-06-30: 21.62025-03-31: 16.72025-06-30: 18.62025-09-30: 17.62025-12-31: 13.42026-03-31: 12 2021-12 2026-03
12 monthly readings · 12 to 29.1 · axis starts at 10.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.7, basis not documented by the producer
13 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

25.1%
19.832.645.42020-03-31: 29.82020-06-30: 33.62020-09-30: 34.42021-03-31: 39.12021-06-30: 42.92021-09-30: 40.42021-12-31: 40.42022-03-31: 36.22022-06-30: 30.82022-09-30: 27.42022-12-31: 22.22023-06-30: 22.42024-03-31: 38.82024-09-30: 38.62024-12-31: 30.72025-03-31: 25.92025-06-30: 27.12025-09-30: 25.12025-12-31: 27.12026-03-31: 25.1 2020-03 2026-03
20 monthly readings · 22.2 to 42.9 · axis starts at 19.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.9, basis not documented by the producer
5 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£34,804
13k25k37k1997-12-31: 16k1998-12-31: 15k1999-12-31: 16k2000-12-31: 17k2001-12-31: 17k2002-12-31: 17k2003-12-31: 18k2004-12-31: 18k2005-12-31: 19k2006-12-31: 20k2007-12-31: 20k2008-12-31: 21k2009-12-31: 21k2010-12-31: 21k2011-12-31: 21k2012-12-31: 22k2013-12-31: 23k2014-12-31: 24k2015-12-31: 25k2016-12-31: 26k2017-12-31: 26k2018-12-31: 27k2019-12-31: 28k2020-12-31: 27k2021-12-31: 29k2022-12-31: 31k2023-12-31: 33k2024-12-31: 35k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 15k to 35k · axis starts at 13k

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,914
1,9162,4733,0302020-01-31: 2,0632020-02-29: 2,0712020-03-31: 2,0872020-04-30: 2,0292020-05-31: 2,0242020-06-30: 2,0352020-07-31: 2,0692020-08-31: 2,0952020-09-30: 2,1142020-10-31: 2,1312020-11-30: 2,1532020-12-31: 2,1922021-01-31: 2,1472021-02-28: 2,1572021-03-31: 2,1982021-04-30: 2,1982021-05-31: 2,2072021-06-30: 2,2132021-07-31: 2,2122021-08-31: 2,2162021-09-30: 2,2512021-10-31: 2,2702021-11-30: 2,2832021-12-31: 2,3312022-01-31: 2,2842022-02-28: 2,2972022-03-31: 2,3522022-04-30: 2,3372022-05-31: 2,3532022-06-30: 2,3642022-07-31: 2,3592022-08-31: 2,3682022-09-30: 2,4132022-10-31: 2,4392022-11-30: 2,4522022-12-31: 2,4992023-01-31: 2,4572023-02-28: 2,4612023-03-31: 2,5122023-04-30: 2,5082023-05-31: 2,5372023-06-30: 2,5612023-07-31: 2,5172023-08-31: 2,5372023-09-30: 2,5372023-10-31: 2,5532023-11-30: 2,5892023-12-31: 2,6162024-01-31: 2,5822024-02-29: 2,5932024-03-31: 2,6462024-04-30: 2,6402024-05-31: 2,6572024-06-30: 2,6512024-07-31: 2,6412024-08-31: 2,6432024-09-30: 2,6662024-10-31: 2,7232024-11-30: 2,7192024-12-31: 2,7492025-01-31: 2,7062025-02-28: 2,7032025-03-31: 2,7692025-04-30: 2,7692025-05-31: 2,7822025-06-30: 2,7822025-07-31: 2,7852025-08-31: 2,8012025-09-30: 2,8092025-10-31: 2,8362025-11-30: 2,8412025-12-31: 2,8802026-01-31: 2,8382026-02-28: 2,8482026-03-31: 2,9132026-04-30: 2,9172026-05-31: 2,9112026-06-30: 2,9222026-07-31: 2,914 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 2,024 to 2,922 · axis starts at 1,916

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.

166,005
152k160k168k2020-01-31: 157k2020-02-29: 157k2020-03-31: 157k2020-04-30: 156k2020-05-31: 155k2020-06-30: 156k2020-07-31: 156k2020-08-31: 156k2020-09-30: 156k2020-10-31: 155k2020-11-30: 154k2020-12-31: 154k2021-01-31: 153k2021-02-28: 153k2021-03-31: 154k2021-04-30: 155k2021-05-31: 156k2021-06-30: 158k2021-07-31: 159k2021-08-31: 159k2021-09-30: 160k2021-10-31: 159k2021-11-30: 159k2021-12-31: 159k2022-01-31: 159k2022-02-28: 159k2022-03-31: 160k2022-04-30: 160k2022-05-31: 160k2022-06-30: 161k2022-07-31: 163k2022-08-31: 162k2022-09-30: 163k2022-10-31: 162k2022-11-30: 162k2022-12-31: 162k2023-01-31: 161k2023-02-28: 162k2023-03-31: 162k2023-04-30: 163k2023-05-31: 163k2023-06-30: 164k2023-07-31: 165k2023-08-31: 164k2023-09-30: 165k2023-10-31: 164k2023-11-30: 164k2023-12-31: 164k2024-01-31: 163k2024-02-29: 163k2024-03-31: 164k2024-04-30: 164k2024-05-31: 164k2024-06-30: 165k2024-07-31: 166k2024-08-31: 165k2024-09-30: 165k2024-10-31: 165k2024-11-30: 165k2024-12-31: 165k2025-01-31: 164k2025-02-28: 163k2025-03-31: 163k2025-04-30: 164k2025-05-31: 164k2025-06-30: 165k2025-07-31: 166k2025-08-31: 165k2025-09-30: 165k2025-10-31: 165k2025-11-30: 165k2025-12-31: 164k2026-01-31: 164k2026-02-28: 163k2026-03-31: 164k2026-04-30: 164k2026-05-31: 164k2026-06-30: 165k2026-07-31: 166k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 153k to 166k · axis starts at 152k

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
18,890
15k17k20k2010-03-31: 16k2011-03-31: 16k2012-03-31: 16k2013-03-31: 16k2014-03-31: 17k2015-03-31: 18k2016-03-31: 18k2017-03-31: 19k2018-03-31: 19k2019-03-31: 19k2020-03-31: 19k2021-03-31: 19k2022-03-31: 19k2023-03-31: 19k2024-03-31: 19k2025-03-31: 19k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 16k to 19k · axis starts at 15k

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

15,150
12k14k16k2010-03-31: 12k2011-03-31: 12k2012-03-31: 13k2013-03-31: 13k2014-03-31: 13k2015-03-31: 14k2016-03-31: 14k2017-03-31: 15k2018-03-31: 15k2019-03-31: 15k2020-03-31: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2022-03-31: 15k2023-03-31: 15k2024-03-31: 15k2025-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 12k to 15k · axis starts at 12k

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

975
8789681,0572010-03-31: 9152011-03-31: 8952012-03-31: 9502013-03-31: 9552014-03-31: 9752015-03-31: 9852016-03-31: 9702017-03-31: 1,0102018-03-31: 1,0302019-03-31: 1,0402020-03-31: 1,0002021-03-31: 9902022-03-31: 1,0102023-03-31: 1,0052024-03-31: 9952025-03-31: 975 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 895 to 1,040 · axis starts at 878

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

110
65.2901152010-03-31: 752011-03-31: 702012-03-31: 752013-03-31: 752014-03-31: 752015-03-31: 802016-03-31: 752017-03-31: 802018-03-31: 802019-03-31: 852020-03-31: 952021-03-31: 852022-03-31: 852023-03-31: 902024-03-31: 1052025-03-31: 110 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 70 to 110 · axis starts at 65.2

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

10
08.416.82010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 02016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 15

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

555
4185085972010-03-31: 4452011-03-31: 4352012-03-31: 4752013-03-31: 5052014-03-31: 5152015-03-31: 5202016-03-31: 5302017-03-31: 5452018-03-31: 5652019-03-31: 5352020-03-31: 5402021-03-31: 5552022-03-31: 5802023-03-31: 5802024-03-31: 5752025-03-31: 555 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 435 to 580 · axis starts at 418

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

35
28.83541.22010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 352016-03-31: 402017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 352021-03-31: 352022-03-31: 302023-03-31: 302024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 35 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 40 · axis starts at 28.8

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

1,840
1,8141,9482,0812010-03-31: 1,9252011-03-31: 1,8902012-03-31: 1,9702013-03-31: 1,9002014-03-31: 1,9502015-03-31: 2,0552016-03-31: 1,9302017-03-31: 1,9502018-03-31: 1,9802019-03-31: 2,0052020-03-31: 1,9952021-03-31: 1,9552022-03-31: 2,0102023-03-31: 1,9952024-03-31: 1,9352025-03-31: 1,840 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,840 to 2,055 · axis starts at 1,814

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

200
1441752062010-03-31: 1552011-03-31: 1552012-03-31: 1502013-03-31: 1552014-03-31: 1752015-03-31: 1802016-03-31: 1752017-03-31: 1652018-03-31: 1702019-03-31: 1702020-03-31: 1752021-03-31: 1652022-03-31: 1802023-03-31: 1902024-03-31: 1952025-03-31: 200 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 150 to 200 · axis starts at 144

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

15
3.81016.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 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

21,175
18k20k22k2010-03-31: 18k2011-03-31: 18k2012-03-31: 18k2013-03-31: 19k2014-03-31: 19k2015-03-31: 20k2016-03-31: 21k2017-03-31: 21k2018-03-31: 21k2019-03-31: 22k2020-03-31: 21k2021-03-31: 21k2022-03-31: 21k2023-03-31: 21k2024-03-31: 21k2025-03-31: 21k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 18k to 22k · axis starts at 18k

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

14,618
4,50310k16k1998-12-31: 5,5871999-12-31: 5,7712000-12-31: 5,8352001-12-31: 6,1042002-12-31: 6,3292003-12-31: 6,6202004-12-31: 6,9322005-12-31: 7,4642006-12-31: 7,6982007-12-31: 8,0102008-12-31: 8,5012009-12-31: 8,2712010-12-31: 8,5462011-12-31: 8,8672012-12-31: 9,0962013-12-31: 9,4532014-12-31: 9,6762015-12-31: 10k2016-12-31: 11k2017-12-31: 11k2018-12-31: 12k2019-12-31: 13k2020-12-31: 12k2021-12-31: 13k2022-12-31: 13k2023-12-31: 15k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 5,587 to 15k · axis starts at 4,503

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West Kent

Sevenoaks · Tonbridge and Malling · Tunbridge Wells