The Datum Report

Local area

Wolverhampton

What we think is happening

The job market in Wolverhampton has been getting stronger.

improving · established 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 11.2% +1.5 in the top 6% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for Wolverhampton. 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
11.2%
3.27.712.12020-03-31: 7.72020-06-30: 8.02020-09-30: 7.22020-12-31: 7.22021-03-31: 7.72021-06-30: 6.92021-09-30: 5.92021-12-31: 6.32022-03-31: 4.72022-06-30: 4.02022-09-30: 6.02022-12-31: 6.22023-03-31: 6.12023-06-30: 7.42023-09-30: 7.72023-12-31: 7.02024-03-31: 8.42024-06-30: 7.62024-09-30: 4.92024-12-31: 6.72025-03-31: 6.12025-06-30: 7.92025-09-30: 11.32025-12-31: 9.72026-03-31: 11.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 4.0 to 11.3 · axis starts at 3.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.4, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
69.8%
63.170.978.72020-03-31: 68.12020-06-30: 70.52020-09-30: 72.32020-12-31: 72.82021-03-31: 72.52021-06-30: 71.32021-09-30: 69.82021-12-31: 70.82022-03-31: 72.32022-06-30: 71.02022-09-30: 68.92022-12-31: 66.02023-03-31: 65.22023-06-30: 66.32023-09-30: 68.32023-12-31: 70.32024-03-31: 65.72024-06-30: 64.62024-09-30: 66.12024-12-31: 65.82025-03-31: 68.62025-06-30: 75.12025-09-30: 77.22025-12-31: 71.92026-03-31: 69.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 64.6 to 77.2 · axis starts at 63.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±5.0, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
6.1%
2.26.210.22020-03-31: 6.92020-06-30: 5.72020-09-30: 4.82020-12-31: 4.92021-03-31: 5.22021-06-30: 5.82021-09-30: 7.02021-12-31: 6.62022-03-31: 6.22022-06-30: 7.92022-09-30: 7.32022-12-31: 7.42023-03-31: 9.42023-06-30: 7.82023-09-30: 7.42023-12-31: 8.22024-03-31: 5.82024-06-30: 7.42024-09-30: 7.82024-12-31: 7.42025-03-31: 5.82025-06-30: 3.02025-09-30: 3.42025-12-31: 5.32026-03-31: 6.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 3.0 to 9.4 · axis starts at 2.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.0, basis not documented by the producer

25.6%
18.925.231.52020-03-31: 26.82020-06-30: 25.32020-09-30: 24.12020-12-31: 23.42021-03-31: 23.52021-06-30: 24.32021-09-30: 25.02021-12-31: 24.22022-03-31: 22.92022-06-30: 22.82022-09-30: 25.72022-12-31: 28.72023-03-31: 28.12023-06-30: 28.02023-09-30: 26.12023-12-31: 23.42024-03-31: 30.22024-06-30: 30.32024-09-30: 28.32024-12-31: 29.02025-03-31: 27.12025-06-30: 22.62025-09-30: 20.12025-12-31: 24.12026-03-31: 25.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 20.1 to 30.3 · axis starts at 18.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.7, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
11,840
8,73814k18k2020-01-31: 9,6702020-02-29: 10k2020-03-31: 10k2020-04-30: 15k2020-05-31: 17k2020-06-30: 17k2020-07-31: 17k2020-08-31: 17k2020-09-30: 17k2020-10-31: 17k2020-11-30: 17k2020-12-31: 17k2021-01-31: 17k2021-02-28: 17k2021-03-31: 17k2021-04-30: 17k2021-05-31: 17k2021-06-30: 16k2021-07-31: 16k2021-08-31: 15k2021-09-30: 14k2021-10-31: 14k2021-11-30: 14k2021-12-31: 13k2022-01-31: 13k2022-02-28: 13k2022-03-31: 13k2022-04-30: 12k2022-05-31: 12k2022-06-30: 12k2022-07-31: 12k2022-08-31: 12k2022-09-30: 12k2022-10-31: 12k2022-11-30: 12k2022-12-31: 12k2023-01-31: 12k2023-02-28: 12k2023-03-31: 13k2023-04-30: 13k2023-05-31: 13k2023-06-30: 13k2023-07-31: 13k2023-08-31: 12k2023-09-30: 12k2023-10-31: 12k2023-11-30: 12k2023-12-31: 12k2024-01-31: 12k2024-02-29: 12k2024-03-31: 12k2024-04-30: 12k2024-05-31: 12k2024-06-30: 12k2024-07-31: 13k2024-08-31: 13k2024-09-30: 13k2024-10-31: 13k2024-11-30: 13k2024-12-31: 13k2025-01-31: 12k2025-02-28: 13k2025-03-31: 13k2025-04-30: 12k2025-05-31: 12k2025-06-30: 12k2025-07-31: 12k2025-08-31: 12k2025-09-30: 12k2025-10-31: 12k2025-11-30: 12k2025-12-31: 11k2026-01-31: 11k2026-02-28: 12k2026-03-31: 12k2026-04-30: 12k2026-05-31: 12k2026-06-30: 12k2026-07-31: 12k2026-08-31: 12k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 9,670 to 17k · axis starts at 8,738

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

6.7%
6.56.66.72026-01-31: 6.52026-02-28: 6.72026-03-31: 6.72026-04-30: 6.62026-05-31: 6.72026-06-30: 6.72026-07-31: 6.62026-08-31: 6.7 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 6.5 to 6.7 · axis starts at 6.5

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.

28.2%
19.629.038.42020-03-31: 27.92020-06-30: 26.02020-09-30: 22.82020-12-31: 22.62021-03-31: 21.42021-06-30: 24.12021-09-30: 25.32021-12-31: 25.32022-03-31: 29.02022-06-30: 28.12022-09-30: 26.12022-12-31: 23.82023-03-31: 29.12023-06-30: 29.82023-09-30: 29.62023-12-31: 32.72024-03-31: 30.82024-06-30: 33.92024-09-30: 35.72024-12-31: 36.62025-03-31: 36.32025-06-30: 27.12025-09-30: 31.92025-12-31: 312026-03-31: 28.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 21.4 to 36.6 · axis starts at 19.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.6, basis not documented by the producer

24.5%
14.224.735.22020-03-31: 26.82020-06-30: 28.12020-09-30: 32.52020-12-31: 32.52021-03-31: 26.52021-06-30: 25.62021-09-30: 26.32021-12-31: 28.42022-03-31: 29.52022-06-30: 33.22022-09-30: 32.32022-12-31: 32.62023-03-31: 26.72023-06-30: 23.32023-09-30: 16.22023-12-31: 21.92024-03-31: 28.12024-06-30: 30.12024-09-30: 29.82024-12-31: 252025-03-31: 23.32025-06-30: 19.52025-09-30: 26.22025-12-31: 24.22026-03-31: 24.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.2 to 33.2 · axis starts at 14.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.2, basis not documented by the producer

6.2%
1.66.611.52020-03-31: 7.52020-06-30: 7.92020-09-30: 10.22020-12-31: 9.72021-03-31: 7.52021-06-30: 6.82021-09-30: 6.62021-12-31: 6.12022-03-31: 8.62022-06-30: 8.82022-09-30: 5.02022-12-31: 3.22023-03-31: 2.62023-06-30: 5.02023-09-30: 7.72023-12-31: 9.52024-03-31: 4.92024-06-30: 4.92024-09-30: 7.02024-12-31: 8.62025-03-31: 8.62025-06-30: 10.62025-09-30: 9.62025-12-31: 5.62026-03-31: 6.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 2.6 to 10.6 · axis starts at 1.6

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

24.0%
8.119.430.72020-03-31: 25.92020-06-30: 252020-09-30: 19.82020-12-31: 17.82021-03-31: 17.52021-06-30: 15.32021-09-30: 18.52021-12-31: 20.32022-03-31: 19.62022-06-30: 21.92022-09-30: 25.42022-12-31: 28.52023-03-31: 24.32023-06-30: 23.72023-09-30: 22.82023-12-31: 10.32024-03-31: 15.82024-06-30: 15.72024-09-30: 13.32024-12-31: 15.32025-03-31: 21.92025-06-30: 24.92025-09-30: 19.62025-12-31: 252026-03-31: 24 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 10.3 to 28.5 · axis starts at 8.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±9.1, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£18,493
7,60814k20k1997-12-31: 8,7741998-12-31: 9,0171999-12-31: 9,4272000-12-31: 9,7622001-12-31: 10k2002-12-31: 10k2003-12-31: 10k2004-12-31: 11k2005-12-31: 11k2006-12-31: 11k2007-12-31: 11k2008-12-31: 12k2009-12-31: 12k2010-12-31: 12k2011-12-31: 12k2012-12-31: 13k2013-12-31: 13k2014-12-31: 13k2015-12-31: 14k2016-12-31: 14k2017-12-31: 14k2018-12-31: 15k2019-12-31: 15k2020-12-31: 16k2021-12-31: 16k2022-12-31: 17k2023-12-31: 18k2024-12-31: 18k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 8,774 to 18k · axis starts at 7,608

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,461
1,5292,0452,5612020-01-31: 1,6572020-02-29: 1,6672020-03-31: 1,6692020-04-30: 1,6292020-05-31: 1,6502020-06-30: 1,6722020-07-31: 1,7062020-08-31: 1,7162020-09-30: 1,7342020-10-31: 1,7432020-11-30: 1,7492020-12-31: 1,7762021-01-31: 1,7452021-02-28: 1,7402021-03-31: 1,7612021-04-30: 1,7862021-05-31: 1,7862021-06-30: 1,7912021-07-31: 1,7972021-08-31: 1,8022021-09-30: 1,8262021-10-31: 1,8192021-11-30: 1,8242021-12-31: 1,8582022-01-31: 1,8262022-02-28: 1,8312022-03-31: 1,8752022-04-30: 1,8812022-05-31: 1,8942022-06-30: 1,9032022-07-31: 1,9182022-08-31: 1,9352022-09-30: 1,9662022-10-31: 1,9582022-11-30: 2,0072022-12-31: 2,0052023-01-31: 1,9682023-02-28: 1,9722023-03-31: 1,9932023-04-30: 2,0332023-05-31: 2,0642023-06-30: 2,1142023-07-31: 2,0802023-08-31: 2,0772023-09-30: 2,0892023-10-31: 2,0872023-11-30: 2,1182023-12-31: 2,1652024-01-31: 2,1042024-02-29: 2,1182024-03-31: 2,1432024-04-30: 2,1912024-05-31: 2,2012024-06-30: 2,1982024-07-31: 2,2082024-08-31: 2,2142024-09-30: 2,2192024-10-31: 2,2692024-11-30: 2,2722024-12-31: 2,2792025-01-31: 2,2632025-02-28: 2,2542025-03-31: 2,2752025-04-30: 2,3142025-05-31: 2,3292025-06-30: 2,3332025-07-31: 2,3492025-08-31: 2,3852025-09-30: 2,3682025-10-31: 2,3602025-11-30: 2,3642025-12-31: 2,3832026-01-31: 2,3542026-02-28: 2,3692026-03-31: 2,3912026-04-30: 2,4322026-05-31: 2,4492026-06-30: 2,4542026-07-31: 2,461 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,629 to 2,461 · axis starts at 1,529

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.

118,596
105k113k122k2020-01-31: 110k2020-02-29: 109k2020-03-31: 109k2020-04-30: 107k2020-05-31: 107k2020-06-30: 108k2020-07-31: 108k2020-08-31: 107k2020-09-30: 107k2020-10-31: 107k2020-11-30: 108k2020-12-31: 108k2021-01-31: 107k2021-02-28: 107k2021-03-31: 107k2021-04-30: 107k2021-05-31: 108k2021-06-30: 109k2021-07-31: 110k2021-08-31: 110k2021-09-30: 111k2021-10-31: 112k2021-11-30: 113k2021-12-31: 113k2022-01-31: 112k2022-02-28: 112k2022-03-31: 112k2022-04-30: 112k2022-05-31: 113k2022-06-30: 113k2022-07-31: 114k2022-08-31: 114k2022-09-30: 114k2022-10-31: 115k2022-11-30: 116k2022-12-31: 116k2023-01-31: 115k2023-02-28: 115k2023-03-31: 115k2023-04-30: 115k2023-05-31: 116k2023-06-30: 117k2023-07-31: 117k2023-08-31: 117k2023-09-30: 118k2023-10-31: 118k2023-11-30: 119k2023-12-31: 119k2024-01-31: 118k2024-02-29: 118k2024-03-31: 117k2024-04-30: 118k2024-05-31: 119k2024-06-30: 119k2024-07-31: 119k2024-08-31: 119k2024-09-30: 119k2024-10-31: 120k2024-11-30: 120k2024-12-31: 120k2025-01-31: 119k2025-02-28: 118k2025-03-31: 118k2025-04-30: 118k2025-05-31: 119k2025-06-30: 119k2025-07-31: 119k2025-08-31: 119k2025-09-30: 119k2025-10-31: 119k2025-11-30: 120k2025-12-31: 119k2026-01-31: 118k2026-02-28: 118k2026-03-31: 118k2026-04-30: 118k2026-05-31: 118k2026-06-30: 119k2026-07-31: 119k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 107k to 120k · axis starts at 105k

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
8,130
5,1597,2829,4062010-03-31: 5,7902011-03-31: 5,5702012-03-31: 5,7552013-03-31: 5,6502014-03-31: 5,8252015-03-31: 6,3702016-03-31: 6,7702017-03-31: 7,5602018-03-31: 7,5452019-03-31: 7,3602020-03-31: 7,4502021-03-31: 7,7252022-03-31: 8,9952023-03-31: 8,8602024-03-31: 8,2052025-03-31: 8,130 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5,570 to 8,995 · axis starts at 5,159

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

6,275
3,6275,3487,0682010-03-31: 4,0952011-03-31: 3,9702012-03-31: 4,0552013-03-31: 3,9602014-03-31: 4,1202015-03-31: 4,5752016-03-31: 5,0352017-03-31: 5,7852018-03-31: 5,7452019-03-31: 5,5352020-03-31: 5,6502021-03-31: 5,9252022-03-31: 6,7002023-03-31: 6,7352024-03-31: 6,2702025-03-31: 6,275 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,960 to 6,735 · axis starts at 3,627

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

480
3795407012010-03-31: 4302011-03-31: 4102012-03-31: 4402013-03-31: 4552014-03-31: 4602015-03-31: 4802016-03-31: 4802017-03-31: 4702018-03-31: 5002019-03-31: 5052020-03-31: 4952021-03-31: 4902022-03-31: 6702023-03-31: 5402024-03-31: 4802025-03-31: 480 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 410 to 670 · axis starts at 379

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

55
42.65567.42010-03-31: 552011-03-31: 502012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 452014-03-31: 502015-03-31: 502016-03-31: 502017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 502019-03-31: 552020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 652022-03-31: 552023-03-31: 552024-03-31: 602025-03-31: 55 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

10
910112010-03-31: 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: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · unchanged at 10 · axis starts at 9

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

280
2402682952010-03-31: 2652011-03-31: 2502012-03-31: 2502013-03-31: 2602014-03-31: 2502015-03-31: 2602016-03-31: 2602017-03-31: 2752018-03-31: 2652019-03-31: 2752020-03-31: 2652021-03-31: 2452022-03-31: 2552023-03-31: 2702024-03-31: 2902025-03-31: 280 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 245 to 290 · axis starts at 240

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

20
8.81521.22010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 202016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 202018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 20 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

910
7419921,2442010-03-31: 8552011-03-31: 7902012-03-31: 8552013-03-31: 8002014-03-31: 8252015-03-31: 8852016-03-31: 8202017-03-31: 8552018-03-31: 8502019-03-31: 8652020-03-31: 8552021-03-31: 8752022-03-31: 1,1952023-03-31: 1,1352024-03-31: 9852025-03-31: 910 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 790 to 1,195 · axis starts at 741

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

85
66.4851042010-03-31: 702011-03-31: 802012-03-31: 802013-03-31: 902014-03-31: 852015-03-31: 852016-03-31: 902017-03-31: 902018-03-31: 1002019-03-31: 902020-03-31: 902021-03-31: 902022-03-31: 852023-03-31: 852024-03-31: 802025-03-31: 85 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

15
3.81016.22010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 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

9,630
7,3939,13511k2010-03-31: 8,0552011-03-31: 7,7302012-03-31: 7,8202013-03-31: 7,9202014-03-31: 8,0652015-03-31: 8,1902016-03-31: 8,3852017-03-31: 9,1602018-03-31: 9,0902019-03-31: 8,9452020-03-31: 9,0152021-03-31: 9,3152022-03-31: 11k2023-03-31: 10k2024-03-31: 9,7152025-03-31: 9,630 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 7,730 to 11k · axis starts at 7,393

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

6,440
2,6004,7266,8511998-12-31: 3,0111999-12-31: 3,1252000-12-31: 3,2152001-12-31: 3,3742002-12-31: 3,5092003-12-31: 3,6262004-12-31: 3,7312005-12-31: 3,9182006-12-31: 4,0342007-12-31: 4,1642008-12-31: 4,2552009-12-31: 4,0352010-12-31: 4,1172011-12-31: 4,2692012-12-31: 4,2352013-12-31: 4,2952014-12-31: 4,3772015-12-31: 4,2192016-12-31: 4,5352017-12-31: 4,8672018-12-31: 5,1382019-12-31: 5,2732020-12-31: 4,9252021-12-31: 5,4892022-12-31: 5,9772023-12-31: 6,440 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 3,011 to 6,440 · axis starts at 2,600

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton