The Datum Report

Local area

West Sussex (North East)

What we think is happening

The job market in West Sussex (North East) 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
Claimant count August 2026 7,480 +260 in the top 8% of 182
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 11.5% -1.9 in the bottom 1% of 171
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 24.9% -6.8 in the bottom 2% of 171
% of economically inactive looking after family/home Apr 2025-Mar 2026 20.3% +3.4 in the top 8% of 170

By subject

Every figure published for West Sussex (North East). 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%
4.79.514.32020-03-31: 11.52020-06-30: 10.72020-09-30: 10.62020-12-31: 10.22021-03-31: 9.42021-06-30: 9.52021-09-30: 7.72021-12-31: 5.62022-03-31: 7.12022-06-30: 7.22022-09-30: 10.12022-12-31: 11.82023-03-31: 10.52023-06-30: 11.02024-03-31: 11.32024-06-30: 10.72024-09-30: 13.42024-12-31: 12.22025-03-31: 11.92025-06-30: 12.82025-09-30: 13.22025-12-31: 13.42026-03-31: 11.5 2020-03 2026-03
23 monthly readings · 5.6 to 13.4 · axis starts at 4.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.2, basis not documented by the producer
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
85.6%
74.780.786.82020-03-31: 80.12020-06-30: 79.92020-09-30: 80.72020-12-31: 79.92021-03-31: 80.02021-06-30: 79.32021-09-30: 79.42021-12-31: 80.42022-03-31: 81.12022-06-30: 84.42022-09-30: 84.32022-12-31: 84.22023-03-31: 81.62023-06-30: 77.62023-09-30: 75.92023-12-31: 78.42024-03-31: 78.52024-06-30: 80.62024-09-30: 83.42024-12-31: 81.32025-03-31: 80.62025-06-30: 81.32025-09-30: 81.32025-12-31: 842026-03-31: 85.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 75.9 to 85.6 · axis starts at 74.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.6, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
1.8%
1.62.84.02020-12-31: 3.52021-03-31: 3.42021-06-30: 3.72021-09-30: 3.72021-12-31: 3.12022-03-31: 3.02025-12-31: 22026-03-31: 1.8 2020-12 2026-03
8 monthly readings · 1.8 to 3.7 · axis starts at 1.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
17 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

12.9%
11.717.723.72020-03-31: 17.72020-06-30: 17.32020-09-30: 16.92020-12-31: 17.22021-03-31: 17.22021-06-30: 17.72021-09-30: 17.52021-12-31: 17.02022-03-31: 16.62022-06-30: 14.72022-09-30: 14.92022-12-31: 15.12023-03-31: 17.62023-06-30: 21.52023-09-30: 22.52023-12-31: 20.22024-03-31: 19.92024-06-30: 17.62024-09-30: 15.02024-12-31: 16.52025-03-31: 17.12025-06-30: 16.32025-09-30: 17.02025-12-31: 14.22026-03-31: 12.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 12.9 to 22.5 · axis starts at 11.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.4, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
7,480
2,8298,57014k2020-01-31: 3,9402020-02-29: 4,0752020-03-31: 4,1702020-04-30: 8,0902020-05-31: 12k2020-06-30: 11k2020-07-31: 12k2020-08-31: 12k2020-09-30: 13k2020-10-31: 12k2020-11-30: 13k2020-12-31: 13k2021-01-31: 12k2021-02-28: 13k2021-03-31: 13k2021-04-30: 13k2021-05-31: 11k2021-06-30: 10k2021-07-31: 9,7852021-08-31: 9,2152021-09-30: 8,5202021-10-31: 8,1402021-11-30: 7,7302021-12-31: 7,3952022-01-31: 7,2052022-02-28: 7,2202022-03-31: 6,9852022-04-30: 6,6102022-05-31: 6,2852022-06-30: 6,1152022-07-31: 6,0702022-08-31: 6,1802022-09-30: 6,2202022-10-31: 6,1002022-11-30: 6,0202022-12-31: 5,9852023-01-31: 5,8602023-02-28: 6,0452023-03-31: 6,0602023-04-30: 6,1952023-05-31: 6,0252023-06-30: 6,1452023-07-31: 6,2402023-08-31: 6,1352023-09-30: 6,1802023-10-31: 6,2352023-11-30: 6,2802023-12-31: 6,3152024-01-31: 6,4152024-02-29: 6,5452024-03-31: 6,4952024-04-30: 6,3752024-05-31: 6,4952024-06-30: 6,7302024-07-31: 7,2152024-08-31: 7,2602024-09-30: 7,2552024-10-31: 7,0302024-11-30: 6,8902024-12-31: 6,6352025-01-31: 6,7552025-02-28: 7,0452025-03-31: 7,2052025-04-30: 7,1952025-05-31: 7,1152025-06-30: 7,1702025-07-31: 7,0902025-08-31: 7,0602025-09-30: 7,1702025-10-31: 7,1502025-11-30: 7,1152025-12-31: 7,1052026-01-31: 7,2502026-02-28: 7,4452026-03-31: 7,4152026-04-30: 7,2952026-05-31: 7,3352026-06-30: 7,2952026-07-31: 7,2202026-08-31: 7,480 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 3,940 to 13k · axis starts at 2,829

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

2.8%
2.72.82.82026-01-31: 2.72026-02-28: 2.82026-03-31: 2.82026-04-30: 2.72026-05-31: 2.82026-06-30: 2.72026-07-31: 2.72026-08-31: 2.8 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.7 to 2.8 · axis starts at 2.7

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.

18.0%
16.622.628.72020-03-31: 24.02024-12-31: 27.12025-03-31: 27.52025-12-31: 17.82026-03-31: 18 2020-03 2026-03
5 monthly readings · 17.8 to 27.5 · axis starts at 16.6

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

20.3%
12.820.127.42020-03-31: 19.92020-06-30: 17.42020-09-30: 18.32021-03-31: 14.32021-06-30: 14.92021-09-30: 15.22021-12-31: 202022-03-31: 18.92022-06-30: 22.82022-09-30: 26.02025-03-31: 21.62025-09-30: 20.62025-12-31: 16.92026-03-31: 20.3 2020-03 2026-03
14 monthly readings · 14.3 to 26.0 · axis starts at 12.8

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

15.8%
13.021.129.22020-03-31: 27.62020-06-30: 25.42020-09-30: 27.52021-03-31: 20.22021-06-30: 19.32021-12-31: 14.52022-03-31: 17.42022-06-30: 22.52023-03-31: 19.92023-06-30: 18.22023-09-30: 18.62023-12-31: 24.52025-12-31: 15.52026-03-31: 15.8 2020-03 2026-03
14 monthly readings · 14.5 to 27.6 · axis starts at 13.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±10.3, basis not documented by the producer
11 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

24.9%
21.827.633.52023-03-31: 30.82023-06-30: 32.42023-09-30: 28.92023-12-31: 29.62024-03-31: 32.02024-12-31: 22.92025-03-31: 26.12025-06-30: 24.62025-09-30: 24.92025-12-31: 31.72026-03-31: 24.9 2023-03 2026-03
11 monthly readings · 22.9 to 32.4 · axis starts at 21.8

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

Pay 3
£30,105
13k22k32k1997-12-31: 15k1998-12-31: 15k1999-12-31: 15k2000-12-31: 16k2001-12-31: 16k2002-12-31: 16k2003-12-31: 17k2004-12-31: 17k2005-12-31: 18k2006-12-31: 18k2007-12-31: 19k2008-12-31: 19k2009-12-31: 19k2010-12-31: 19k2011-12-31: 20k2012-12-31: 20k2013-12-31: 21k2014-12-31: 21k2015-12-31: 22k2016-12-31: 23k2017-12-31: 23k2018-12-31: 24k2019-12-31: 25k2020-12-31: 24k2021-12-31: 25k2022-12-31: 26k2023-12-31: 28k2024-12-31: 30k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 15k to 30k · axis starts at 13k

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,837
1,8242,3922,9592020-01-31: 2,0142020-02-29: 2,0102020-03-31: 2,0202020-04-30: 1,9342020-05-31: 1,9352020-06-30: 1,9492020-07-31: 1,9892020-08-31: 2,0272020-09-30: 2,0462020-10-31: 2,0772020-11-30: 2,0772020-12-31: 2,1122021-01-31: 2,0772021-02-28: 2,0842021-03-31: 2,1142021-04-30: 2,1212021-05-31: 2,1172021-06-30: 2,1312021-07-31: 2,1252021-08-31: 2,1262021-09-30: 2,1632021-10-31: 2,1802021-11-30: 2,1842021-12-31: 2,2192022-01-31: 2,1982022-02-28: 2,2012022-03-31: 2,2542022-04-30: 2,2622022-05-31: 2,2792022-06-30: 2,2972022-07-31: 2,3042022-08-31: 2,3112022-09-30: 2,3572022-10-31: 2,3682022-11-30: 2,3952022-12-31: 2,4092023-01-31: 2,3692023-02-28: 2,3682023-03-31: 2,4202023-04-30: 2,4292023-05-31: 2,4612023-06-30: 2,5132023-07-31: 2,4642023-08-31: 2,4772023-09-30: 2,4952023-10-31: 2,4942023-11-30: 2,5342023-12-31: 2,5572024-01-31: 2,5232024-02-29: 2,5202024-03-31: 2,5552024-04-30: 2,5632024-05-31: 2,5732024-06-30: 2,5902024-07-31: 2,5892024-08-31: 2,5992024-09-30: 2,6102024-10-31: 2,6682024-11-30: 2,6722024-12-31: 2,6702025-01-31: 2,6482025-02-28: 2,6552025-03-31: 2,6782025-04-30: 2,7052025-05-31: 2,7112025-06-30: 2,7152025-07-31: 2,7182025-08-31: 2,7542025-09-30: 2,7492025-10-31: 2,7492025-11-30: 2,7502025-12-31: 2,7892026-01-31: 2,7582026-02-28: 2,7592026-03-31: 2,8052026-04-30: 2,8262026-05-31: 2,8332026-06-30: 2,8492026-07-31: 2,837 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,934 to 2,849 · axis starts at 1,824

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.

202,557
181k194k206k2020-01-31: 193k2020-02-29: 192k2020-03-31: 192k2020-04-30: 189k2020-05-31: 189k2020-06-30: 189k2020-07-31: 189k2020-08-31: 187k2020-09-30: 186k2020-10-31: 185k2020-11-30: 185k2020-12-31: 185k2021-01-31: 184k2021-02-28: 183k2021-03-31: 184k2021-04-30: 185k2021-05-31: 187k2021-06-30: 188k2021-07-31: 189k2021-08-31: 190k2021-09-30: 191k2021-10-31: 190k2021-11-30: 191k2021-12-31: 192k2022-01-31: 191k2022-02-28: 192k2022-03-31: 193k2022-04-30: 193k2022-05-31: 194k2022-06-30: 195k2022-07-31: 196k2022-08-31: 197k2022-09-30: 197k2022-10-31: 197k2022-11-30: 198k2022-12-31: 198k2023-01-31: 198k2023-02-28: 198k2023-03-31: 198k2023-04-30: 199k2023-05-31: 200k2023-06-30: 201k2023-07-31: 202k2023-08-31: 201k2023-09-30: 201k2023-10-31: 201k2023-11-30: 202k2023-12-31: 202k2024-01-31: 201k2024-02-29: 200k2024-03-31: 201k2024-04-30: 202k2024-05-31: 202k2024-06-30: 203k2024-07-31: 204k2024-08-31: 203k2024-09-30: 203k2024-10-31: 203k2024-11-30: 203k2024-12-31: 203k2025-01-31: 202k2025-02-28: 201k2025-03-31: 202k2025-04-30: 202k2025-05-31: 202k2025-06-30: 203k2025-07-31: 203k2025-08-31: 203k2025-09-30: 203k2025-10-31: 202k2025-11-30: 202k2025-12-31: 202k2026-01-31: 201k2026-02-28: 200k2026-03-31: 201k2026-04-30: 201k2026-05-31: 201k2026-06-30: 202k2026-07-31: 203k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 183k to 204k · axis starts at 181k

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
18,240
14k17k19k2010-03-31: 15k2011-03-31: 15k2012-03-31: 15k2013-03-31: 15k2014-03-31: 16k2015-03-31: 17k2016-03-31: 18k2017-03-31: 18k2018-03-31: 18k2019-03-31: 18k2020-03-31: 19k2021-03-31: 19k2022-03-31: 19k2023-03-31: 18k2024-03-31: 18k2025-03-31: 18k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15k to 19k · axis starts at 14k

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

14,375
11k13k15k2010-03-31: 12k2011-03-31: 11k2012-03-31: 12k2013-03-31: 12k2014-03-31: 12k2015-03-31: 13k2016-03-31: 14k2017-03-31: 15k2018-03-31: 14k2019-03-31: 15k2020-03-31: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2022-03-31: 15k2023-03-31: 14k2024-03-31: 14k2025-03-31: 14k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 11k to 15k · axis starts at 11k

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

1,015
8049401,0762010-03-31: 8352011-03-31: 8302012-03-31: 8952013-03-31: 8902014-03-31: 9302015-03-31: 1,0002016-03-31: 9902017-03-31: 1,0202018-03-31: 1,0202019-03-31: 1,0102020-03-31: 9752021-03-31: 9752022-03-31: 1,0152023-03-31: 1,0502024-03-31: 1,0502025-03-31: 1,015 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 830 to 1,050 · axis starts at 804

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

90
77.6901022010-03-31: 902011-03-31: 802012-03-31: 802013-03-31: 802014-03-31: 852015-03-31: 802016-03-31: 852017-03-31: 852018-03-31: 952019-03-31: 902020-03-31: 1002021-03-31: 902022-03-31: 852023-03-31: 902024-03-31: 852025-03-31: 90 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 80 to 100 · axis starts at 77.6

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

20
13.82026.22010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 20 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 25 · axis starts at 13.8

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

565
4245085912010-03-31: 4602011-03-31: 4452012-03-31: 4402013-03-31: 4852014-03-31: 5102015-03-31: 5302016-03-31: 5152017-03-31: 5302018-03-31: 5352019-03-31: 5402020-03-31: 5302021-03-31: 5452022-03-31: 5552023-03-31: 5752024-03-31: 5502025-03-31: 565 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 440 to 575 · axis starts at 424

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

40
23.232.541.82010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 352013-03-31: 352014-03-31: 352015-03-31: 352016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 352021-03-31: 302022-03-31: 402023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 402025-03-31: 40 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25 to 40 · axis starts at 23.2

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

1,925
1,7751,9552,1352010-03-31: 1,8952011-03-31: 1,8102012-03-31: 1,8452013-03-31: 1,8102014-03-31: 1,8802015-03-31: 2,0002016-03-31: 1,9252017-03-31: 1,9402018-03-31: 1,9452019-03-31: 1,9302020-03-31: 2,0002021-03-31: 2,0552022-03-31: 2,1002023-03-31: 2,0502024-03-31: 1,9902025-03-31: 1,925 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,810 to 2,100 · axis starts at 1,775

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

190
1451701952010-03-31: 1502011-03-31: 1502012-03-31: 1702013-03-31: 1702014-03-31: 1602015-03-31: 1652016-03-31: 1652017-03-31: 1702018-03-31: 1752019-03-31: 1902020-03-31: 1852021-03-31: 1852022-03-31: 1802023-03-31: 1752024-03-31: 1852025-03-31: 190 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 150 to 190 · axis starts at 145

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

20
13.82026.22010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 20 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 25 · axis starts at 13.8

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

21,145
17k20k22k2010-03-31: 18k2011-03-31: 18k2012-03-31: 18k2013-03-31: 18k2014-03-31: 19k2015-03-31: 20k2016-03-31: 20k2017-03-31: 21k2018-03-31: 21k2019-03-31: 21k2020-03-31: 21k2021-03-31: 22k2022-03-31: 22k2023-03-31: 21k2024-03-31: 21k2025-03-31: 21k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 18k to 22k · axis starts at 17k

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

14,517
5,57911k15k1998-12-31: 6,5371999-12-31: 6,8762000-12-31: 7,0702001-12-31: 7,1982002-12-31: 7,5082003-12-31: 7,7382004-12-31: 7,7842005-12-31: 7,9982006-12-31: 8,4602007-12-31: 8,7652008-12-31: 9,4512009-12-31: 9,1622010-12-31: 9,4702011-12-31: 9,6002012-12-31: 10k2013-12-31: 10k2014-12-31: 10k2015-12-31: 11k2016-12-31: 12k2017-12-31: 12k2018-12-31: 13k2019-12-31: 13k2020-12-31: 12k2021-12-31: 12k2022-12-31: 13k2023-12-31: 15k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 6,537 to 15k · axis starts at 5,579

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West Sussex (North East)

Crawley · Horsham · Mid Sussex