The Datum Report

Local area

West Suffolk

What we think is happening

The job market in West Suffolk has been going both ways.

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
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 7.3% +1.4 in the top 7% of 169
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 32.8% +7.4 in the top 1% of 171
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 10.9% +1.8 in the top 3% of 171
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 21.9% -4.5 in the bottom 4% of 165
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 20.6% -4.7 in the bottom 7% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for West Suffolk. 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
10.9%
7.510.713.92020-03-31: 9.22020-06-30: 10.12020-09-30: 10.22020-12-31: 12.02021-03-31: 12.02021-06-30: 11.12021-09-30: 11.32021-12-31: 9.92022-03-31: 9.32022-06-30: 9.62022-09-30: 9.32022-12-31: 10.12023-03-31: 9.62023-06-30: 8.12023-09-30: 9.82023-12-31: 8.82024-03-31: 10.12024-06-30: 13.32024-09-30: 11.62024-12-31: 13.02025-03-31: 12.12025-06-30: 11.22025-09-30: 10.42025-12-31: 9.12026-03-31: 10.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 8.1 to 13.3 · axis starts at 7.5

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

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
77.0%
70.577.985.22020-03-31: 80.82020-06-30: 81.62020-09-30: 83.82020-12-31: 81.12021-03-31: 79.22021-06-30: 77.82021-09-30: 76.42021-12-31: 76.02022-03-31: 77.12022-06-30: 76.52022-09-30: 78.22022-12-31: 76.22023-03-31: 72.82023-06-30: 72.62023-09-30: 71.92023-12-31: 77.22024-03-31: 79.52024-06-30: 78.62024-09-30: 80.52024-12-31: 81.52025-03-31: 78.32025-06-30: 78.32025-09-30: 77.12025-12-31: 78.92026-03-31: 77 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 71.9 to 83.8 · axis starts at 70.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±6.4, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
7.3%
0.64.78.82020-03-31: 1.52020-06-30: 1.42020-09-30: 2.02020-12-31: 3.82021-03-31: 5.42021-06-30: 5.72021-09-30: 4.32021-12-31: 2.52023-03-31: 5.92023-06-30: 6.02023-09-30: 8.02023-12-31: 7.22024-03-31: 5.02024-06-30: 4.22024-09-30: 3.62024-12-31: 2.52025-03-31: 3.42025-06-30: 3.52025-09-30: 4.72025-12-31: 5.92026-03-31: 7.3 2020-03 2026-03
21 monthly readings · 1.4 to 8.0 · axis starts at 0.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.5, basis not documented by the producer
4 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

16.9%
13.418.724.12020-03-31: 18.02020-06-30: 17.12020-09-30: 14.52020-12-31: 15.62021-03-31: 16.22021-06-30: 17.52021-09-30: 20.12021-12-31: 22.12022-03-31: 22.52022-06-30: 23.02022-09-30: 21.22022-12-31: 22.32023-03-31: 22.72023-06-30: 22.82023-09-30: 21.82023-12-31: 16.62024-03-31: 16.42024-06-30: 18.12024-09-30: 16.52024-12-31: 16.52025-03-31: 18.92025-06-30: 19.02025-09-30: 19.12025-12-31: 16.22026-03-31: 16.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.5 to 23.0 · axis starts at 13.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.7, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
2,910
1,6613,3605,0592020-01-31: 1,9902020-02-29: 2,0402020-03-31: 2,0652020-04-30: 3,8052020-05-31: 4,7152020-06-30: 4,4452020-07-31: 4,5052020-08-31: 4,7302020-09-30: 4,6702020-10-31: 4,4402020-11-30: 4,4902020-12-31: 4,4252021-01-31: 4,3802021-02-28: 4,6352021-03-31: 4,5352021-04-30: 4,4852021-05-31: 4,1802021-06-30: 3,8452021-07-31: 3,6802021-08-31: 3,5102021-09-30: 3,3552021-10-31: 3,0952021-11-30: 2,9352021-12-31: 2,8002022-01-31: 2,7252022-02-28: 2,7652022-03-31: 2,7152022-04-30: 2,6152022-05-31: 2,5002022-06-30: 2,4152022-07-31: 2,4102022-08-31: 2,3702022-09-30: 2,3552022-10-31: 2,3052022-11-30: 2,2802022-12-31: 2,3252023-01-31: 2,3252023-02-28: 2,3552023-03-31: 2,4352023-04-30: 2,4352023-05-31: 2,4152023-06-30: 2,4552023-07-31: 2,4202023-08-31: 2,3852023-09-30: 2,3952023-10-31: 2,3902023-11-30: 2,4352023-12-31: 2,4552024-01-31: 2,5202024-02-29: 2,6102024-03-31: 2,5902024-04-30: 2,5852024-05-31: 2,5702024-06-30: 2,5702024-07-31: 2,8252024-08-31: 2,8252024-09-30: 2,7202024-10-31: 2,7102024-11-30: 2,7102024-12-31: 2,6902025-01-31: 2,6952025-02-28: 2,7952025-03-31: 2,7502025-04-30: 2,7052025-05-31: 2,6852025-06-30: 2,7402025-07-31: 2,6902025-08-31: 2,7152025-09-30: 2,7802025-10-31: 2,7502025-11-30: 2,7402025-12-31: 2,7402026-01-31: 2,8102026-02-28: 2,9452026-03-31: 2,9102026-04-30: 2,8552026-05-31: 2,8552026-06-30: 2,8752026-07-31: 2,8202026-08-31: 2,910 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 1,990 to 4,730 · axis starts at 1,661

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

2.5%
2.52.52.62026-01-31: 2.52026-02-28: 2.62026-03-31: 2.52026-04-30: 2.52026-05-31: 2.52026-06-30: 2.52026-07-31: 2.52026-08-31: 2.5 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.5 to 2.6 · axis starts at 2.5

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.

32.8%
22.934.345.62020-03-31: 29.92020-06-30: 30.72020-09-30: 33.62020-12-31: 39.82021-03-31: 43.52021-06-30: 35.72021-09-30: 30.82021-12-31: 26.42022-03-31: 25.22022-06-30: 27.42022-09-30: 34.62022-12-31: 34.22023-03-31: 34.22023-06-30: 27.32023-09-30: 26.12023-12-31: 29.92024-03-31: 25.12024-06-30: 34.22024-09-30: 29.92024-12-31: 36.72025-03-31: 32.82025-06-30: 26.42025-09-30: 28.42025-12-31: 25.42026-03-31: 32.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 25.1 to 43.5 · axis starts at 22.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±15.8, basis not documented by the producer

16.0%
7.017.928.82020-03-31: 20.32020-06-30: 18.82020-09-30: 20.12020-12-31: 26.72021-03-31: 16.72021-06-30: 13.72021-09-30: 13.52021-12-31: 9.12022-03-31: 10.12022-06-30: 12.52022-09-30: 15.42022-12-31: 16.72023-03-31: 17.32023-06-30: 21.92023-09-30: 17.82023-12-31: 16.72024-03-31: 17.52024-06-30: 13.72024-09-30: 11.92024-12-31: 10.72025-03-31: 12.42025-06-30: 13.42025-09-30: 13.92025-12-31: 16.82026-03-31: 16 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 9.1 to 26.7 · axis starts at 7.0

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

21.9%
6.417.528.52020-03-31: 10.22020-06-30: 8.52021-03-31: 8.92021-06-30: 15.92021-09-30: 17.32021-12-31: 21.22022-03-31: 20.22022-06-30: 17.72022-09-30: 17.52022-12-31: 12.52023-03-31: 10.32023-06-30: 10.72023-09-30: 102023-12-31: 16.12024-03-31: 11.12024-06-30: 16.32024-09-30: 20.32024-12-31: 15.32025-03-31: 17.42025-06-30: 17.92025-09-30: 22.92025-12-31: 26.42026-03-31: 21.9 2020-03 2026-03
23 monthly readings · 8.5 to 26.4 · axis starts at 6.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±13.9, basis not documented by the producer
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

20.6%
10.724.237.72020-03-31: 17.12020-06-30: 19.32020-09-30: 20.12020-12-31: 18.02021-03-31: 14.32021-06-30: 14.82021-09-30: 23.12021-12-31: 28.62022-03-31: 27.72022-06-30: 25.42022-09-30: 17.12022-12-31: 13.32023-03-31: 16.02023-06-30: 24.82023-09-30: 27.02023-12-31: 26.42024-03-31: 35.12024-06-30: 22.62024-09-30: 23.72024-12-31: 22.02025-03-31: 27.42025-06-30: 30.82025-09-30: 23.42025-12-31: 25.32026-03-31: 20.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 13.3 to 35.1 · axis starts at 10.7

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

Pay 1
£23,636
7,79817k25k1997-12-31: 9,4951998-12-31: 9,5521999-12-31: 9,9692000-12-31: 11k2001-12-31: 12k2002-12-31: 12k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 13k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 14k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 15k2009-12-31: 15k2010-12-31: 15k2011-12-31: 15k2012-12-31: 16k2013-12-31: 16k2014-12-31: 17k2015-12-31: 18k2016-12-31: 18k2017-12-31: 18k2018-12-31: 19k2019-12-31: 20k2020-12-31: 20k2021-12-31: 20k2022-12-31: 21k2023-12-31: 22k2024-12-31: 24k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,495 to 24k · axis starts at 7,798

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 12
Businesses
2025
7,910
5,9057,0158,1252010-03-31: 6,2152011-03-31: 6,1202012-03-31: 6,2152013-03-31: 6,2352014-03-31: 6,4052015-03-31: 6,7152016-03-31: 6,9052017-03-31: 7,0552018-03-31: 7,0802019-03-31: 7,2402020-03-31: 7,2652021-03-31: 7,3152022-03-31: 7,4802023-03-31: 7,4802024-03-31: 7,7502025-03-31: 7,910 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 6,120 to 7,910 · axis starts at 5,905

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

6,055
4,2575,2526,2482010-03-31: 4,5102011-03-31: 4,4502012-03-31: 4,5302013-03-31: 4,5152014-03-31: 4,6352015-03-31: 4,8602016-03-31: 5,1052017-03-31: 5,2302018-03-31: 5,1952019-03-31: 5,3452020-03-31: 5,4252021-03-31: 5,5002022-03-31: 5,6352023-03-31: 5,6252024-03-31: 5,9152025-03-31: 6,055 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,450 to 6,055 · axis starts at 4,257

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

460
3804324852010-03-31: 4352011-03-31: 3902012-03-31: 4102013-03-31: 4302014-03-31: 4552015-03-31: 4702016-03-31: 4402017-03-31: 4502018-03-31: 4702019-03-31: 4752020-03-31: 4502021-03-31: 4552022-03-31: 4602023-03-31: 4652024-03-31: 4702025-03-31: 460 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 390 to 475 · axis starts at 380

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

40
34.437.540.62010-03-31: 402011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 352014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 352016-03-31: 352017-03-31: 352018-03-31: 402019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 402023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 352025-03-31: 40 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 35 to 40 · axis starts at 34.4

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

5
4.555.52010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 52023-03-31: 52024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · unchanged at 5 · axis starts at 4.5

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

285
2182552922010-03-31: 2352011-03-31: 2352012-03-31: 2252013-03-31: 2552014-03-31: 2552015-03-31: 2602016-03-31: 2652017-03-31: 2702018-03-31: 2652019-03-31: 2752020-03-31: 2752021-03-31: 2702022-03-31: 2602023-03-31: 2652024-03-31: 2752025-03-31: 285 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 225 to 285 · axis starts at 218

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

15
8.81521.22010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 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: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 15 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10 to 20 · axis starts at 8.8

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

955
8889501,0122010-03-31: 9052011-03-31: 9152012-03-31: 9152013-03-31: 9002014-03-31: 9252015-03-31: 9802016-03-31: 9502017-03-31: 9552018-03-31: 9852019-03-31: 1,0002020-03-31: 9502021-03-31: 9352022-03-31: 9602023-03-31: 9602024-03-31: 9302025-03-31: 955 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 900 to 1,000 · axis starts at 888

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

95
66.4851042010-03-31: 702011-03-31: 752012-03-31: 802013-03-31: 802014-03-31: 852015-03-31: 902016-03-31: 902017-03-31: 952018-03-31: 902019-03-31: 852020-03-31: 952021-03-31: 952022-03-31: 1002023-03-31: 952024-03-31: 952025-03-31: 95 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 70 to 100 · axis starts at 66.4

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

5
4.555.52010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 52017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 52023-03-31: 52024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · unchanged at 5 · axis starts at 4.5

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

9,390
7,3018,4589,6142010-03-31: 7,5852011-03-31: 7,5252012-03-31: 7,6052013-03-31: 7,6252014-03-31: 7,9502015-03-31: 8,2302016-03-31: 8,4052017-03-31: 8,5702018-03-31: 8,5852019-03-31: 8,7352020-03-31: 8,7302021-03-31: 8,7802022-03-31: 8,9802023-03-31: 8,9452024-03-31: 9,2352025-03-31: 9,390 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 7,525 to 9,390 · axis starts at 7,301

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

6,132
2,0714,3196,5671998-12-31: 2,5061999-12-31: 2,6222000-12-31: 2,7902001-12-31: 2,9402002-12-31: 3,0762003-12-31: 3,1802004-12-31: 3,2802005-12-31: 3,4352006-12-31: 3,7092007-12-31: 3,8222008-12-31: 4,0242009-12-31: 4,0242010-12-31: 4,0972011-12-31: 4,2092012-12-31: 4,3832013-12-31: 4,5992014-12-31: 4,7072015-12-31: 4,9482016-12-31: 5,2302017-12-31: 5,4302018-12-31: 5,4972019-12-31: 5,7362020-12-31: 5,2282021-12-31: 5,5212022-12-31: 5,8562023-12-31: 6,132 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 2,506 to 6,132 · axis starts at 2,071

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West Suffolk

West Suffolk