The Datum Report

Local area

West Lothian

What we think is happening

The job market in West Lothian has been weakening.

deteriorating · strong 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
Claimant count August 2026 3,230 +145 in the top 3% of 182
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 3.9% -1.4 in the bottom 6% of 171
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 18.3% -12 in the bottom 1% of 171
% of economically inactive looking after family/home Apr 2025-Mar 2026 19.4% +12 in the top 1% of 170
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 14.5% -2.1 in the bottom 6% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for West Lothian. 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
3.9%
3.36.29.22020-03-31: 8.42020-06-30: 8.62020-09-30: 7.72020-12-31: 8.62021-03-31: 7.42021-06-30: 7.02021-09-30: 7.92021-12-31: 6.22022-03-31: 7.52022-06-30: 6.62022-09-30: 6.22022-12-31: 6.32023-03-31: 4.82023-06-30: 5.42023-09-30: 6.12023-12-31: 7.32024-03-31: 7.22024-06-30: 7.12024-09-30: 6.92024-12-31: 6.62025-03-31: 6.92025-06-30: 6.72025-09-30: 5.72025-12-31: 5.32026-03-31: 3.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 3.9 to 8.6 · axis starts at 3.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.3, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
83.6%
69.777.485.12020-03-31: 78.62020-06-30: 76.92020-09-30: 75.22020-12-31: 74.42021-03-31: 71.92021-06-30: 71.22021-09-30: 73.52021-12-31: 73.82022-03-31: 75.22022-06-30: 75.52022-09-30: 75.12022-12-31: 76.92023-03-31: 77.02023-06-30: 76.92023-09-30: 75.32023-12-31: 74.52024-03-31: 71.92024-06-30: 72.82024-09-30: 72.42024-12-31: 72.62025-03-31: 74.12025-06-30: 77.62025-09-30: 81.62025-12-31: 81.92026-03-31: 83.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 71.2 to 83.6 · axis starts at 69.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.5, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
2.3%
1.33.76.12020-03-31: 2.62020-06-30: 3.22020-09-30: 3.52020-12-31: 3.22021-03-31: 3.32021-06-30: 2.92021-09-30: 3.32021-12-31: 2.92022-03-31: 2.92022-06-30: 3.52022-09-30: 2.42022-12-31: 2.22023-03-31: 2.62023-06-30: 3.72023-09-30: 4.02023-12-31: 4.42024-03-31: 4.02024-06-30: 4.22024-09-30: 4.62024-12-31: 5.52025-03-31: 5.62025-06-30: 3.52025-09-30: 2.22025-12-31: 1.82026-03-31: 2.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 1.8 to 5.6 · axis starts at 1.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026

14.5%
13.020.628.22020-03-31: 19.32020-06-30: 20.62020-09-30: 22.02020-12-31: 23.02021-03-31: 25.62021-06-30: 26.72021-09-30: 24.02021-12-31: 24.02022-03-31: 22.52022-06-30: 21.72022-09-30: 23.02022-12-31: 21.42023-03-31: 21.02023-06-30: 20.12023-09-30: 21.62023-12-31: 22.12024-03-31: 25.12024-06-30: 24.12024-09-30: 24.12024-12-31: 23.22025-03-31: 21.42025-06-30: 19.62025-09-30: 16.52025-12-31: 16.62026-03-31: 14.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.5 to 26.7 · axis starts at 13.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.3, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
3,230
2,3574,9307,5032020-01-31: 3,2602020-02-29: 3,4252020-03-31: 3,4502020-04-30: 5,6002020-05-31: 6,6452020-06-30: 6,4052020-07-31: 6,8002020-08-31: 7,0052020-09-30: 6,6752020-10-31: 6,2552020-11-30: 6,3252020-12-31: 6,1402021-01-31: 6,1752021-02-28: 6,3852021-03-31: 6,5302021-04-30: 6,3452021-05-31: 5,9152021-06-30: 5,3752021-07-31: 5,2702021-08-31: 5,0202021-09-30: 4,5552021-10-31: 4,2152021-11-30: 4,0152021-12-31: 3,7952022-01-31: 3,7252022-02-28: 3,7152022-03-31: 3,4052022-04-30: 3,3302022-05-31: 3,1352022-06-30: 3,1152022-07-31: 3,1902022-08-31: 3,3052022-09-30: 3,1952022-10-31: 3,0452022-11-30: 3,0502022-12-31: 3,0002023-01-31: 3,0602023-02-28: 3,0652023-03-31: 3,2352023-04-30: 3,3602023-05-31: 3,1652023-06-30: 3,2052023-07-31: 3,2602023-08-31: 3,1952023-09-30: 3,0602023-10-31: 2,9402023-11-30: 3,0902023-12-31: 3,1052024-01-31: 3,0752024-02-29: 3,1602024-03-31: 3,3102024-04-30: 3,1302024-05-31: 3,1152024-06-30: 3,1302024-07-31: 3,3152024-08-31: 3,3102024-09-30: 3,2152024-10-31: 2,9952024-11-30: 3,0802024-12-31: 2,9352025-01-31: 3,0152025-02-28: 3,1552025-03-31: 3,1502025-04-30: 3,0502025-05-31: 2,9552025-06-30: 2,9752025-07-31: 2,9602025-08-31: 3,0052025-09-30: 2,8552025-10-31: 2,8702025-11-30: 2,8852025-12-31: 2,8552026-01-31: 2,9052026-02-28: 3,0702026-03-31: 3,1352026-04-30: 3,1552026-05-31: 3,2052026-06-30: 3,1002026-07-31: 3,0852026-08-31: 3,230 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 2,855 to 7,005 · axis starts at 2,357

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

2.7%
2.42.52.72026-01-31: 2.42026-02-28: 2.62026-03-31: 2.62026-04-30: 2.72026-05-31: 2.72026-06-30: 2.62026-07-31: 2.62026-08-31: 2.7 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.4 to 2.7 · axis starts at 2.4

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.

18.3%
15.131.648.02020-03-31: 37.92020-06-30: 38.52020-09-30: 38.12020-12-31: 35.82021-03-31: 30.52021-06-30: 26.92021-09-30: 24.32021-12-31: 26.42022-03-31: 25.12022-06-30: 26.52022-09-30: 34.32022-12-31: 33.92023-03-31: 35.42023-06-30: 30.32023-09-30: 20.22023-12-31: 19.32024-03-31: 30.32024-06-30: 29.32024-09-30: 37.42024-12-31: 42.82025-03-31: 40.12025-06-30: 44.82025-09-30: 36.52025-12-31: 29.92026-03-31: 18.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18.3 to 44.8 · axis starts at 15.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026

19.4%
5.813.922.02020-03-31: 16.52020-06-30: 14.22020-09-30: 11.32020-12-31: 10.02021-03-31: 11.62021-06-30: 17.12021-09-30: 20.42021-12-31: 16.82022-03-31: 17.12022-06-30: 16.62022-09-30: 17.22022-12-31: 18.32023-03-31: 17.52023-06-30: 18.42023-09-30: 20.22023-12-31: 18.92024-03-31: 19.02024-06-30: 18.72024-09-30: 19.22024-12-31: 19.22025-03-31: 15.52025-06-30: 12.52025-09-30: 10.22025-12-31: 7.42026-03-31: 19.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 7.4 to 20.4 · axis starts at 5.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026

24.2%
8.017.526.92020-03-31: 14.32020-06-30: 13.42020-09-30: 12.52020-12-31: 12.52021-03-31: 13.62021-06-30: 13.32021-09-30: 13.72021-12-31: 13.22022-03-31: 13.32022-06-30: 16.22022-09-30: 14.62022-12-31: 18.32023-03-31: 16.72023-06-30: 9.82023-09-30: 11.12023-12-31: 11.22024-03-31: 10.92024-06-30: 14.82024-09-30: 12.12024-12-31: 11.12025-03-31: 13.92025-06-30: 15.52025-09-30: 21.32025-12-31: 25.12026-03-31: 24.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 9.8 to 25.1 · axis starts at 8.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±13.4, basis not documented by the producer

22.6%
14.623.432.22020-03-31: 22.32020-06-30: 20.92020-09-30: 23.72020-12-31: 20.72021-03-31: 23.22021-06-30: 23.12021-09-30: 20.82021-12-31: 21.12022-03-31: 24.32022-06-30: 22.92022-09-30: 19.82022-12-31: 21.12023-03-31: 21.12023-06-30: 26.52023-09-30: 26.52023-12-31: 30.52024-03-31: 26.92024-06-30: 23.02024-09-30: 23.12024-12-31: 19.22025-03-31: 16.32025-06-30: 16.82025-09-30: 18.82025-12-31: 22.92026-03-31: 22.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.3 to 30.5 · axis starts at 14.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026

Pay 3
£23,214
6,48516k25k1997-12-31: 8,2771998-12-31: 8,5811999-12-31: 9,2282000-12-31: 10k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 14k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 14k2012-12-31: 15k2013-12-31: 15k2014-12-31: 16k2015-12-31: 17k2016-12-31: 17k2017-12-31: 17k2018-12-31: 18k2019-12-31: 18k2020-12-31: 19k2021-12-31: 19k2022-12-31: 21k2023-12-31: 22k2024-12-31: 23k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 8,277 to 23k · axis starts at 6,485

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,732
1,7972,3152,8332020-01-31: 1,8972020-02-29: 1,9182020-03-31: 1,9582020-04-30: 1,9012020-05-31: 1,9082020-06-30: 1,9132020-07-31: 1,9412020-08-31: 1,9622020-09-30: 1,9782020-10-31: 1,9892020-11-30: 1,9982020-12-31: 2,0302021-01-31: 2,0142021-02-28: 2,0202021-03-31: 2,0292021-04-30: 2,0522021-05-31: 2,0532021-06-30: 2,0412021-07-31: 2,0542021-08-31: 2,0732021-09-30: 2,0602021-10-31: 2,0852021-11-30: 2,0922021-12-31: 2,1382022-01-31: 2,1342022-02-28: 2,1182022-03-31: 2,1482022-04-30: 2,1512022-05-31: 2,1692022-06-30: 2,1732022-07-31: 2,1822022-08-31: 2,1962022-09-30: 2,2092022-10-31: 2,2452022-11-30: 2,2992022-12-31: 2,3012023-01-31: 2,2852023-02-28: 2,3012023-03-31: 2,3092023-04-30: 2,3662023-05-31: 2,3422023-06-30: 2,3532023-07-31: 2,3532023-08-31: 2,3602023-09-30: 2,3752023-10-31: 2,3922023-11-30: 2,4362023-12-31: 2,4492024-01-31: 2,3932024-02-29: 2,4042024-03-31: 2,4552024-04-30: 2,4912024-05-31: 2,4902024-06-30: 2,4882024-07-31: 2,4872024-08-31: 2,4922024-09-30: 2,4942024-10-31: 2,5372024-11-30: 2,5792024-12-31: 2,5552025-01-31: 2,5272025-02-28: 2,5562025-03-31: 2,5822025-04-30: 2,5922025-05-31: 2,5952025-06-30: 2,6002025-07-31: 2,6182025-08-31: 2,6322025-09-30: 2,6312025-10-31: 2,6382025-11-30: 2,6412025-12-31: 2,6862026-01-31: 2,6382026-02-28: 2,6512026-03-31: 2,6902026-04-30: 2,7332026-05-31: 2,7202026-06-30: 2,7192026-07-31: 2,732 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,897 to 2,733 · axis starts at 1,797

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.

87,750
83k86k90k2020-01-31: 86k2020-02-29: 86k2020-03-31: 86k2020-04-30: 85k2020-05-31: 85k2020-06-30: 85k2020-07-31: 85k2020-08-31: 85k2020-09-30: 85k2020-10-31: 85k2020-11-30: 85k2020-12-31: 84k2021-01-31: 84k2021-02-28: 84k2021-03-31: 84k2021-04-30: 85k2021-05-31: 85k2021-06-30: 86k2021-07-31: 86k2021-08-31: 86k2021-09-30: 87k2021-10-31: 87k2021-11-30: 87k2021-12-31: 87k2022-01-31: 87k2022-02-28: 87k2022-03-31: 87k2022-04-30: 87k2022-05-31: 88k2022-06-30: 88k2022-07-31: 88k2022-08-31: 88k2022-09-30: 88k2022-10-31: 88k2022-11-30: 88k2022-12-31: 88k2023-01-31: 87k2023-02-28: 88k2023-03-31: 88k2023-04-30: 88k2023-05-31: 88k2023-06-30: 89k2023-07-31: 89k2023-08-31: 89k2023-09-30: 89k2023-10-31: 89k2023-11-30: 89k2023-12-31: 89k2024-01-31: 88k2024-02-29: 88k2024-03-31: 88k2024-04-30: 88k2024-05-31: 88k2024-06-30: 89k2024-07-31: 89k2024-08-31: 89k2024-09-30: 89k2024-10-31: 89k2024-11-30: 89k2024-12-31: 88k2025-01-31: 88k2025-02-28: 88k2025-03-31: 87k2025-04-30: 88k2025-05-31: 88k2025-06-30: 88k2025-07-31: 88k2025-08-31: 88k2025-09-30: 88k2025-10-31: 88k2025-11-30: 88k2025-12-31: 88k2026-01-31: 87k2026-02-28: 87k2026-03-31: 87k2026-04-30: 87k2026-05-31: 88k2026-06-30: 88k2026-07-31: 88k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 84k to 89k · axis starts at 83k

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
4,730
3,4204,1454,8702010-03-31: 3,6152011-03-31: 3,5602012-03-31: 3,6952013-03-31: 3,7552014-03-31: 3,9502015-03-31: 4,2552016-03-31: 4,4602017-03-31: 4,5602018-03-31: 4,5852019-03-31: 4,7102020-03-31: 4,6752021-03-31: 4,6252022-03-31: 4,5502023-03-31: 4,5102024-03-31: 4,6102025-03-31: 4,730 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,560 to 4,730 · axis starts at 3,420

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

3,580
2,4263,0653,7042010-03-31: 2,5502011-03-31: 2,5552012-03-31: 2,6602013-03-31: 2,6902014-03-31: 2,8152015-03-31: 3,0652016-03-31: 3,3152017-03-31: 3,4052018-03-31: 3,4152019-03-31: 3,5302020-03-31: 3,5002021-03-31: 3,4952022-03-31: 3,3852023-03-31: 3,3652024-03-31: 3,4652025-03-31: 3,580 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 2,550 to 3,580 · axis starts at 2,426

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

285
2422853282010-03-31: 2652011-03-31: 2502012-03-31: 2552013-03-31: 2752014-03-31: 2952015-03-31: 2802016-03-31: 2902017-03-31: 2952018-03-31: 2902019-03-31: 3152020-03-31: 3052021-03-31: 3152022-03-31: 3102023-03-31: 3202024-03-31: 2952025-03-31: 285 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 250 to 320 · axis starts at 242

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

40
27.64052.42010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 352013-03-31: 352014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 402016-03-31: 402017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 402019-03-31: 402020-03-31: 352021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 452023-03-31: 502024-03-31: 452025-03-31: 40 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 50 · axis starts at 27.6

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

10
4.47.510.62010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5 to 10 · axis starts at 4.4

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

165
1371521682010-03-31: 1502011-03-31: 1402012-03-31: 1402013-03-31: 1502014-03-31: 1552015-03-31: 1502016-03-31: 1452017-03-31: 1452018-03-31: 1602019-03-31: 1502020-03-31: 1502021-03-31: 1502022-03-31: 1552023-03-31: 1652024-03-31: 1552025-03-31: 165 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 140 to 165 · axis starts at 137

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

10
9.412.515.62010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 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

570
4985856722010-03-31: 5402011-03-31: 5152012-03-31: 5402013-03-31: 5352014-03-31: 5802015-03-31: 6552016-03-31: 6002017-03-31: 6052018-03-31: 6052019-03-31: 6002020-03-31: 6052021-03-31: 5552022-03-31: 5802023-03-31: 5452024-03-31: 5602025-03-31: 570 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 515 to 655 · axis starts at 498

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

65
42.65567.42010-03-31: 502011-03-31: 502012-03-31: 452013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 502015-03-31: 452016-03-31: 502017-03-31: 452018-03-31: 502019-03-31: 602020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 552022-03-31: 502023-03-31: 552024-03-31: 652025-03-31: 65 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 45 to 65 · axis starts at 42.6

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

0
02.85.62010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 02016-03-31: 02017-03-31: 02018-03-31: 02019-03-31: 02020-03-31: 02021-03-31: 02022-03-31: 02023-03-31: 02024-03-31: 02025-03-31: 0 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 0 to 5

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

6,085
4,7415,4856,2292010-03-31: 4,9202011-03-31: 4,8852012-03-31: 5,0452013-03-31: 5,1102014-03-31: 5,3152015-03-31: 5,6202016-03-31: 5,7852017-03-31: 5,8952018-03-31: 5,9652019-03-31: 6,0602020-03-31: 6,0152021-03-31: 5,9552022-03-31: 5,8802023-03-31: 5,8402024-03-31: 5,9552025-03-31: 6,085 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,885 to 6,085 · axis starts at 4,741

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

6,284
1,8114,2876,7631998-12-31: 2,2901999-12-31: 2,3572000-12-31: 2,4032001-12-31: 2,4872002-12-31: 2,6232003-12-31: 2,7852004-12-31: 2,9662005-12-31: 3,0852006-12-31: 3,2872007-12-31: 3,4462008-12-31: 3,5762009-12-31: 3,4312010-12-31: 3,5292011-12-31: 3,7002012-12-31: 3,7692013-12-31: 3,7022014-12-31: 3,8902015-12-31: 4,1652016-12-31: 4,2542017-12-31: 4,4632018-12-31: 4,7002019-12-31: 4,8292020-12-31: 4,7302021-12-31: 5,1472022-12-31: 5,7652023-12-31: 6,284 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 2,290 to 6,284 · axis starts at 1,811

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West Lothian

West Lothian