The Datum Report

Local area

West Sussex (South West)

What we think is happening

The job market in West Sussex (South West) 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
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 16.8% -6.4 in the bottom 1% of 165
% of economically inactive long-term sick Apr 2025-Mar 2026 38.9% +4.4 in the top 6% of 171

Moving with the rest of the country

Shown separately because these say something about the country rather than about West Sussex (South West).

By subject

Every figure published for West Sussex (South West). 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
11.3%
9.312.716.22020-03-31: 15.52020-06-30: 15.02020-09-30: 13.52020-12-31: 11.42021-03-31: 11.02021-06-30: 11.72021-09-30: 12.12021-12-31: 13.62022-03-31: 11.92022-06-30: 12.42022-09-30: 9.92024-09-30: 13.22024-12-31: 11.82025-03-31: 11.72025-06-30: 11.52025-09-30: 12.02025-12-31: 12.22026-03-31: 11.3 2020-03 2026-03
18 monthly readings · 9.9 to 15.5 · axis starts at 9.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.0, basis not documented by the producer
7 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
82.8%
72.978.483.92020-03-31: 81.02020-06-30: 79.52020-09-30: 78.82020-12-31: 77.92021-03-31: 78.52021-06-30: 79.52021-09-30: 78.02021-12-31: 77.02022-03-31: 77.12022-06-30: 76.02022-09-30: 73.92022-12-31: 74.92023-03-31: 76.42023-06-30: 76.72023-09-30: 76.92023-12-31: 76.72024-03-31: 74.32024-06-30: 74.72024-09-30: 77.22024-12-31: 80.82025-03-31: 79.92025-06-30: 80.82025-09-30: 81.42025-12-31: 822026-03-31: 82.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 73.9 to 82.8 · axis starts at 72.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.5, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
0.6%
0.22.34.42021-12-31: 4.02025-12-31: 12026-03-31: 0.6 2021-12 2026-03
3 monthly readings · 0.6 to 4.0 · axis starts at 0.2

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

16.6%
15.619.322.92020-03-31: 16.32020-06-30: 18.22020-09-30: 18.82020-12-31: 20.32021-03-31: 19.52021-06-30: 18.32021-09-30: 19.72021-12-31: 19.92022-03-31: 18.82022-06-30: 20.02022-09-30: 21.82022-12-31: 22.22023-03-31: 21.02023-06-30: 19.42023-09-30: 20.12023-12-31: 19.22024-03-31: 20.72024-06-30: 21.22024-09-30: 18.72024-12-31: 17.32025-03-31: 18.52025-06-30: 18.02025-09-30: 17.32025-12-31: 17.22026-03-31: 16.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.3 to 22.2 · axis starts at 15.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.5, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
9,315
4,56811k17k2020-01-31: 5,7302020-02-29: 5,9552020-03-31: 6,0102020-04-30: 12k2020-05-31: 15k2020-06-30: 14k2020-07-31: 15k2020-08-31: 15k2020-09-30: 15k2020-10-31: 14k2020-11-30: 14k2020-12-31: 14k2021-01-31: 14k2021-02-28: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2021-04-30: 15k2021-05-31: 13k2021-06-30: 12k2021-07-31: 12k2021-08-31: 12k2021-09-30: 11k2021-10-31: 10k2021-11-30: 10k2021-12-31: 9,8102022-01-31: 9,6252022-02-28: 9,5202022-03-31: 9,0052022-04-30: 8,4002022-05-31: 8,0652022-06-30: 7,8952022-07-31: 7,8002022-08-31: 7,8202022-09-30: 7,7502022-10-31: 7,6452022-11-30: 7,8102022-12-31: 7,9052023-01-31: 7,9102023-02-28: 7,8902023-03-31: 7,9102023-04-30: 7,9002023-05-31: 7,6202023-06-30: 7,5902023-07-31: 7,5102023-08-31: 7,5352023-09-30: 7,5352023-10-31: 7,5902023-11-30: 7,6852023-12-31: 7,7552024-01-31: 7,9202024-02-29: 8,0802024-03-31: 8,1552024-04-30: 7,9952024-05-31: 7,8202024-06-30: 8,1202024-07-31: 8,7652024-08-31: 8,8002024-09-30: 8,8502024-10-31: 8,8452024-11-30: 8,7352024-12-31: 8,7152025-01-31: 8,9152025-02-28: 9,1952025-03-31: 9,1752025-04-30: 9,0702025-05-31: 8,9502025-06-30: 8,9402025-07-31: 8,8152025-08-31: 8,8952025-09-30: 8,8702025-10-31: 8,8602025-11-30: 8,9452025-12-31: 8,9652026-01-31: 9,1402026-02-28: 9,5552026-03-31: 9,6152026-04-30: 9,4302026-05-31: 9,2652026-06-30: 9,1852026-07-31: 9,1952026-08-31: 9,315 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 5,730 to 15k · axis starts at 4,568

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

3.4%
3.33.43.52026-01-31: 3.32026-02-28: 3.52026-03-31: 3.52026-04-30: 3.42026-05-31: 3.42026-06-30: 3.32026-07-31: 3.32026-08-31: 3.4 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.3 to 3.5 · axis starts at 3.3

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.

38.9%
18.429.741.12021-12-31: 20.62022-03-31: 25.62022-06-30: 20.82022-09-30: 22.62022-12-31: 27.42023-03-31: 26.72023-06-30: 31.22023-09-30: 35.52024-09-30: 32.62024-12-31: 33.32025-03-31: 26.62025-12-31: 34.52026-03-31: 38.9 2021-12 2026-03
13 monthly readings · 20.6 to 38.9 · axis starts at 18.4

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

8.9%
6.518.931.42020-09-30: 29.02020-12-31: 24.22025-12-31: 9.22026-03-31: 8.9 2020-09 2026-03
4 monthly readings · 8.9 to 29.0 · axis starts at 6.5

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

16.8%
15.323.130.92022-06-30: 20.52022-09-30: 23.92022-12-31: 23.72023-03-31: 26.82023-06-30: 29.42025-12-31: 23.22026-03-31: 16.8 2022-06 2026-03
7 monthly readings · 16.8 to 29.4 · axis starts at 15.3

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.9, basis not documented by the producer
18 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

16.4%
11.722.433.22021-06-30: 31.12022-09-30: 29.82025-12-31: 13.82026-03-31: 16.4 2021-06 2026-03
4 monthly readings · 13.8 to 31.1 · axis starts at 11.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.8, basis not documented by the producer
21 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 3
£28,080
9,18120k30k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 12k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 13k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 14k2003-12-31: 14k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 16k2007-12-31: 16k2008-12-31: 17k2009-12-31: 17k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 18k2013-12-31: 19k2014-12-31: 19k2015-12-31: 21k2016-12-31: 21k2017-12-31: 21k2018-12-31: 22k2019-12-31: 22k2020-12-31: 22k2021-12-31: 23k2022-12-31: 25k2023-12-31: 26k2024-12-31: 28k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 28k · axis starts at 9,181

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,545
1,6082,1262,6452020-01-31: 1,7432020-02-29: 1,7432020-03-31: 1,7372020-04-30: 1,7082020-05-31: 1,7262020-06-30: 1,7482020-07-31: 1,7762020-08-31: 1,7912020-09-30: 1,8082020-10-31: 1,8152020-11-30: 1,8142020-12-31: 1,8402021-01-31: 1,8172021-02-28: 1,8172021-03-31: 1,8492021-04-30: 1,8672021-05-31: 1,8672021-06-30: 1,8812021-07-31: 1,8782021-08-31: 1,8912021-09-30: 1,9152021-10-31: 1,9082021-11-30: 1,9122021-12-31: 1,9452022-01-31: 1,9252022-02-28: 1,9272022-03-31: 1,9592022-04-30: 1,9782022-05-31: 2,0002022-06-30: 2,0162022-07-31: 2,0102022-08-31: 2,0292022-09-30: 2,0542022-10-31: 2,0462022-11-30: 2,0862022-12-31: 2,0992023-01-31: 2,0742023-02-28: 2,0742023-03-31: 2,0982023-04-30: 2,1242023-05-31: 2,1752023-06-30: 2,2072023-07-31: 2,1572023-08-31: 2,1652023-09-30: 2,1772023-10-31: 2,1802023-11-30: 2,2082023-12-31: 2,2422024-01-31: 2,2052024-02-29: 2,2132024-03-31: 2,2362024-04-30: 2,2752024-05-31: 2,2922024-06-30: 2,2862024-07-31: 2,2912024-08-31: 2,3022024-09-30: 2,3092024-10-31: 2,3552024-11-30: 2,3672024-12-31: 2,3532025-01-31: 2,3412025-02-28: 2,3432025-03-31: 2,3602025-04-30: 2,4062025-05-31: 2,4252025-06-30: 2,4222025-07-31: 2,4352025-08-31: 2,4552025-09-30: 2,4392025-10-31: 2,4412025-11-30: 2,4382025-12-31: 2,4782026-01-31: 2,4632026-02-28: 2,4612026-03-31: 2,4842026-04-30: 2,5302026-05-31: 2,5372026-06-30: 2,5372026-07-31: 2,545 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,708 to 2,545 · axis starts at 1,608

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.

197,367
180k191k201k2020-01-31: 189k2020-02-29: 189k2020-03-31: 189k2020-04-30: 187k2020-05-31: 187k2020-06-30: 187k2020-07-31: 188k2020-08-31: 187k2020-09-30: 186k2020-10-31: 185k2020-11-30: 185k2020-12-31: 184k2021-01-31: 183k2021-02-28: 182k2021-03-31: 183k2021-04-30: 185k2021-05-31: 187k2021-06-30: 189k2021-07-31: 191k2021-08-31: 191k2021-09-30: 191k2021-10-31: 190k2021-11-30: 191k2021-12-31: 190k2022-01-31: 189k2022-02-28: 190k2022-03-31: 191k2022-04-30: 192k2022-05-31: 194k2022-06-30: 195k2022-07-31: 196k2022-08-31: 196k2022-09-30: 196k2022-10-31: 195k2022-11-30: 195k2022-12-31: 194k2023-01-31: 193k2023-02-28: 193k2023-03-31: 194k2023-04-30: 195k2023-05-31: 196k2023-06-30: 198k2023-07-31: 198k2023-08-31: 198k2023-09-30: 197k2023-10-31: 197k2023-11-30: 196k2023-12-31: 195k2024-01-31: 194k2024-02-29: 194k2024-03-31: 195k2024-04-30: 196k2024-05-31: 197k2024-06-30: 198k2024-07-31: 199k2024-08-31: 198k2024-09-30: 197k2024-10-31: 197k2024-11-30: 196k2024-12-31: 195k2025-01-31: 194k2025-02-28: 194k2025-03-31: 194k2025-04-30: 196k2025-05-31: 196k2025-06-30: 197k2025-07-31: 198k2025-08-31: 197k2025-09-30: 197k2025-10-31: 196k2025-11-30: 195k2025-12-31: 194k2026-01-31: 193k2026-02-28: 193k2026-03-31: 194k2026-04-30: 195k2026-05-31: 196k2026-06-30: 197k2026-07-31: 197k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 182k to 199k · axis starts at 180k

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
18,610
15k17k19k2010-03-31: 16k2011-03-31: 15k2012-03-31: 16k2013-03-31: 16k2014-03-31: 16k2015-03-31: 17k2016-03-31: 18k2017-03-31: 18k2018-03-31: 18k2019-03-31: 18k2020-03-31: 18k2021-03-31: 18k2022-03-31: 19k2023-03-31: 19k2024-03-31: 19k2025-03-31: 19k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15k to 19k · axis starts at 15k

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

14,665
11k13k15k2010-03-31: 12k2011-03-31: 12k2012-03-31: 12k2013-03-31: 12k2014-03-31: 12k2015-03-31: 13k2016-03-31: 14k2017-03-31: 14k2018-03-31: 14k2019-03-31: 14k2020-03-31: 14k2021-03-31: 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 11k

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

1,020
8329521,0732010-03-31: 9002011-03-31: 8552012-03-31: 8802013-03-31: 8802014-03-31: 9602015-03-31: 1,0352016-03-31: 1,0052017-03-31: 1,0102018-03-31: 1,0102019-03-31: 9952020-03-31: 9852021-03-31: 1,0052022-03-31: 1,0352023-03-31: 1,0502024-03-31: 1,0352025-03-31: 1,020 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 855 to 1,050 · axis starts at 832

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

75
45.867.589.22010-03-31: 602011-03-31: 502012-03-31: 552013-03-31: 552014-03-31: 702015-03-31: 802016-03-31: 852017-03-31: 852018-03-31: 752019-03-31: 802020-03-31: 852021-03-31: 702022-03-31: 802023-03-31: 802024-03-31: 752025-03-31: 75 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 50 to 85 · axis starts at 45.8

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

15
9.412.515.62010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 15 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

575
5085455822010-03-31: 5252011-03-31: 5302012-03-31: 5152013-03-31: 5402014-03-31: 5402015-03-31: 5402016-03-31: 5552017-03-31: 5602018-03-31: 5402019-03-31: 5502020-03-31: 5652021-03-31: 5402022-03-31: 5602023-03-31: 5752024-03-31: 5702025-03-31: 575 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 515 to 575 · axis starts at 508

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

25
18.82531.22010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 302014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 302022-03-31: 302023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 25 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 30 · axis starts at 18.8

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

2,025
1,8712,0452,2192010-03-31: 1,9152011-03-31: 1,9052012-03-31: 2,0152013-03-31: 1,9902014-03-31: 2,0402015-03-31: 2,1852016-03-31: 2,1002017-03-31: 2,1002018-03-31: 2,1002019-03-31: 2,1502020-03-31: 2,0952021-03-31: 2,0752022-03-31: 2,1552023-03-31: 2,1052024-03-31: 2,0352025-03-31: 2,025 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,905 to 2,185 · axis starts at 1,871

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

195
1281652022010-03-31: 1402011-03-31: 1352012-03-31: 1502013-03-31: 1552014-03-31: 1602015-03-31: 1602016-03-31: 1552017-03-31: 1652018-03-31: 1702019-03-31: 1652020-03-31: 1652021-03-31: 1752022-03-31: 1652023-03-31: 1902024-03-31: 1952025-03-31: 195 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 135 to 195 · axis starts at 128

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

15
9.412.515.62010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 15 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

21,455
18k20k22k2010-03-31: 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: 21k2022-03-31: 22k2023-03-31: 21k2024-03-31: 21k2025-03-31: 21k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 18k to 22k · axis starts at 18k

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

13,445
3,9289,19614k1998-12-31: 4,9481999-12-31: 5,3892000-12-31: 5,6302001-12-31: 5,7692002-12-31: 6,1612003-12-31: 6,4942004-12-31: 6,5482005-12-31: 6,6952006-12-31: 7,0112007-12-31: 7,2732008-12-31: 7,7682009-12-31: 7,4562010-12-31: 7,6972011-12-31: 7,8072012-12-31: 8,2242013-12-31: 8,4692014-12-31: 8,5802015-12-31: 9,0722016-12-31: 9,5642017-12-31: 10k2018-12-31: 11k2019-12-31: 11k2020-12-31: 11k2021-12-31: 12k2022-12-31: 12k2023-12-31: 13k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 4,948 to 13k · axis starts at 3,928

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in West Sussex (South West)

Adur · Arun · Chichester · Worthing