The Datum Report

Local authority

Ards and North Down

What we think is happening

The business base in Ards and North Down has been shrinking.

deteriorating · established confidence · formed 5 October 2026 · how we reached this

Other standing views

Labour market

The job market in Ards and North Down has been going both ways.

tentative confidence · 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
Businesses employing 0 to 4 people 2026 3,890 +170 in the top 4% of 361
Businesses employing 5 to 9 people 2026 590 -25 in the bottom 5% of 361
Claimant count August 2026 2,510 +150 in the top 2% of 361
Businesses employing 10 to 19 people 2026 290 -20 in the bottom 1% of 361

By subject

Every figure published for Ards and North Down. 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 4
Claimant count
August 2026
2,510
1,8463,4925,1392020-01-31: 2,1652020-02-29: 2,2452020-03-31: 2,3452020-04-30: 4,3652020-05-31: 4,8202020-06-30: 4,6302020-07-31: 4,5852020-08-31: 4,6552020-09-30: 4,4802020-10-31: 4,4002020-11-30: 4,4602020-12-31: 4,3652021-01-31: 4,2102021-02-28: 4,4002021-03-31: 4,2852021-04-30: 4,3152021-05-31: 4,0402021-06-30: 3,8452021-07-31: 3,7902021-08-31: 3,7102021-09-30: 3,5352021-10-31: 3,4152021-11-30: 3,1302021-12-31: 3,0052022-01-31: 2,9102022-02-28: 2,9002022-03-31: 2,7352022-04-30: 2,7152022-05-31: 2,5852022-06-30: 2,5902022-07-31: 2,5802022-08-31: 2,5852022-09-30: 2,6002022-10-31: 2,5602022-11-30: 2,5952022-12-31: 2,6302023-01-31: 2,5152023-02-28: 2,6152023-03-31: 2,6152023-04-30: 2,7002023-05-31: 2,5852023-06-30: 2,5952023-07-31: 2,6502023-08-31: 2,6602023-09-30: 2,6852023-10-31: 2,6652023-11-30: 2,5802023-12-31: 2,6252024-01-31: 2,5002024-02-29: 2,6202024-03-31: 2,6852024-04-30: 2,6602024-05-31: 2,6102024-06-30: 2,7502024-07-31: 2,9652024-08-31: 3,0602024-09-30: 2,9902024-10-31: 2,9852024-11-30: 2,8202024-12-31: 2,7902025-01-31: 2,6652025-02-28: 2,7702025-03-31: 2,7152025-04-30: 2,7452025-05-31: 2,5852025-06-30: 2,6302025-07-31: 2,5802025-08-31: 2,6052025-09-30: 2,5902025-10-31: 2,6452025-11-30: 2,6152025-12-31: 2,4952026-01-31: 2,4802026-02-28: 2,5002026-03-31: 2,4902026-04-30: 2,5052026-05-31: 2,3752026-06-30: 2,3302026-07-31: 2,3602026-08-31: 2,510 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 2,165 to 4,820 · axis starts at 1,846

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

2.6%
1.93.55.22020-01-31: 2.22020-02-29: 2.32020-03-31: 2.42020-04-30: 4.52020-05-31: 4.92020-06-30: 4.72020-07-31: 4.72020-08-31: 4.82020-09-30: 4.62020-10-31: 4.52020-11-30: 4.62020-12-31: 4.52021-01-31: 4.32021-02-28: 4.52021-03-31: 4.42021-04-30: 4.42021-05-31: 4.12021-06-30: 3.92021-07-31: 3.92021-08-31: 3.82021-09-30: 3.62021-10-31: 3.52021-11-30: 3.22021-12-31: 3.12022-01-31: 32022-02-28: 32022-03-31: 2.82022-04-30: 2.82022-05-31: 2.72022-06-30: 2.72022-07-31: 2.72022-08-31: 2.72022-09-30: 2.72022-10-31: 2.62022-11-30: 2.72022-12-31: 2.72023-01-31: 2.62023-02-28: 2.72023-03-31: 2.72023-04-30: 2.82023-05-31: 2.62023-06-30: 2.72023-07-31: 2.72023-08-31: 2.72023-09-30: 2.82023-10-31: 2.72023-11-30: 2.62023-12-31: 2.72024-01-31: 2.62024-02-29: 2.72024-03-31: 2.72024-04-30: 2.72024-05-31: 2.72024-06-30: 2.82024-07-31: 32024-08-31: 3.12024-09-30: 3.12024-10-31: 32024-11-30: 2.92024-12-31: 2.92025-01-31: 2.72025-02-28: 2.82025-03-31: 2.82025-04-30: 2.82025-05-31: 2.62025-06-30: 2.72025-07-31: 2.62025-08-31: 2.72025-09-30: 2.62025-10-31: 2.72025-11-30: 2.72025-12-31: 2.62026-01-31: 2.52026-02-28: 2.62026-03-31: 2.52026-04-30: 2.62026-05-31: 2.42026-06-30: 2.42026-07-31: 2.42026-08-31: 2.6 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 2.2 to 4.9 · axis starts at 1.9

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

—
0.50.50.52020-12-31: 0.52021-12-31: 0.52022-12-31: 0.5 2020-12 2022-12
3 annual readings · 0.5 to 0.5 · axis starts at 0.5

ONS, Jobs density, published 21 April 2026
Not published: These figures are missing.
22 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Total jobs
2024
—
50k51k52k2020-12-31: 52k2021-12-31: 50k2022-12-31: 52k 2020-12 2022-12
3 annual readings · 50k to 52k · axis starts at 50k

ONS, Jobs density, published 21 April 2026
Not published: These figures are missing.
22 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 1
£24,420
7,59417k26k1997-12-31: 9,3971998-12-31: 9,4091999-12-31: 9,7282000-12-31: 10k2001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 12k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 13k2006-12-31: 13k2007-12-31: 14k2008-12-31: 14k2009-12-31: 14k2010-12-31: 14k2011-12-31: 15k2012-12-31: 15k2013-12-31: 15k2014-12-31: 16k2015-12-31: 16k2016-12-31: 17k2017-12-31: 17k2018-12-31: 18k2019-12-31: 18k2020-12-31: 19k2021-12-31: 19k2022-12-31: 21k2023-12-31: 23k2024-12-31: 24k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 9,397 to 24k · axis starts at 7,594

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Business 14
Business births
Q2 2026
110
59.21151712020-03-31: 952020-06-30: 802020-09-30: 852020-12-31: 1152021-03-31: 1252021-06-30: 1302021-09-30: 1002021-12-31: 1002022-03-31: 1302022-06-30: 802022-09-30: 752022-12-31: 702023-03-31: 952023-06-30: 952023-09-30: 752023-12-31: 752024-03-31: 852024-06-30: 902024-09-30: 1252024-12-31: 1302025-03-31: 1602025-06-30: 1252025-09-30: 1252025-12-31: 1352026-03-31: 1202026-06-30: 110 2020-03 2026-06
26 quarterly readings · 70 to 160 · axis starts at 59.2

ONS, Business demography quarterly, published 29 July 2026 (approximate)

Business deaths
Q2 2026
160
70.41201702020-03-31: 1052020-06-30: 802020-09-30: 852020-12-31: 952021-03-31: 1102021-06-30: 1152021-09-30: 1252021-12-31: 1252022-03-31: 1352022-06-30: 1302022-09-30: 1052022-12-31: 1152023-03-31: 952023-06-30: 1052023-09-30: 802023-12-31: 1052024-03-31: 1102024-06-30: 1152024-09-30: 802024-12-31: 952025-03-31: 1402025-06-30: 1352025-09-30: 952025-12-31: 1052026-03-31: 1552026-06-30: 160 2020-03 2026-06
26 quarterly readings · 80 to 160 · axis starts at 70.4

ONS, Business demography quarterly, published 29 July 2026 (approximate)

Businesses
2026
5,015
4,2034,6525,1022010-03-31: 4,6452011-03-31: 4,5702012-03-31: 4,5202013-03-31: 4,3602014-03-31: 4,2902015-03-31: 4,3052016-03-31: 4,4152017-03-31: 4,5202018-03-31: 4,6402019-03-31: 4,7352020-03-31: 4,7152021-03-31: 4,7602022-03-31: 4,8352023-03-31: 4,7752024-03-31: 4,7852025-03-31: 4,8752026-03-31: 5,015 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 4,290 to 5,015 · axis starts at 4,203

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises, published 24 September 2026

3,890
3,0893,5323,9762010-03-31: 3,3552011-03-31: 3,3952012-03-31: 3,3452013-03-31: 3,2202014-03-31: 3,1752015-03-31: 3,1852016-03-31: 3,3002017-03-31: 3,3352018-03-31: 3,4552019-03-31: 3,5802020-03-31: 3,5652021-03-31: 3,6052022-03-31: 3,6702023-03-31: 3,5902024-03-31: 3,6102025-03-31: 3,7202026-03-31: 3,890 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 3,175 to 3,890 · axis starts at 3,089

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

290
2723153582010-03-31: 3502011-03-31: 2952012-03-31: 2902013-03-31: 2802014-03-31: 2852015-03-31: 2902016-03-31: 2952017-03-31: 3002018-03-31: 3052019-03-31: 3152020-03-31: 3002021-03-31: 3102022-03-31: 3102023-03-31: 2952024-03-31: 3052025-03-31: 3102026-03-31: 290 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 280 to 350 · axis starts at 272

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

15
14.417.520.62010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 202021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 202025-03-31: 202026-03-31: 15 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 15 to 20 · axis starts at 14.4

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

5
02.85.62010-03-31: 02011-03-31: 02012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 02015-03-31: 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: 02026-03-31: 5 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 0 to 5

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

180
1241551862010-03-31: 1702011-03-31: 1552012-03-31: 1452013-03-31: 1502014-03-31: 1402015-03-31: 1452016-03-31: 1302017-03-31: 1552018-03-31: 1602019-03-31: 1602020-03-31: 1552021-03-31: 1502022-03-31: 1502023-03-31: 1552024-03-31: 1702025-03-31: 1652026-03-31: 180 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 130 to 180 · axis starts at 124

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

10
4.47.510.62010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 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: 102026-03-31: 10 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 5 to 10 · axis starts at 4.4

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

590
5746557362010-03-31: 7202011-03-31: 6752012-03-31: 6902013-03-31: 6502014-03-31: 6402015-03-31: 6302016-03-31: 6252017-03-31: 6652018-03-31: 6552019-03-31: 6102020-03-31: 6252021-03-31: 6302022-03-31: 6402023-03-31: 6702024-03-31: 6302025-03-31: 6152026-03-31: 590 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 590 to 720 · axis starts at 574

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

30
23.232.541.82010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 302014-03-31: 302015-03-31: 352016-03-31: 352017-03-31: 402018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 402020-03-31: 352021-03-31: 352022-03-31: 302023-03-31: 352024-03-31: 352025-03-31: 302026-03-31: 30 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 25 to 40 · axis starts at 23.2

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

5
02.85.62010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 02012-03-31: 02013-03-31: 02014-03-31: 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: 52026-03-31: 5 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 0 to 5

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 24 September 2026

6,005
5,1935,6426,0922010-03-31: 5,6902011-03-31: 5,5902012-03-31: 5,5352013-03-31: 5,4152014-03-31: 5,2902015-03-31: 5,2802016-03-31: 5,4302017-03-31: 5,5202018-03-31: 5,6552019-03-31: 5,7602020-03-31: 5,7652021-03-31: 5,7752022-03-31: 5,8452023-03-31: 5,7902024-03-31: 5,8202025-03-31: 5,8702026-03-31: 6,005 2010-03 2026-03
17 annual readings · 5,280 to 6,005 · axis starts at 5,193

ONS, UK Business Counts - local units, published 24 September 2026

2,639
8691,8492,8291998-12-31: 1,0591999-12-31: 1,1132000-12-31: 1,1882001-12-31: 1,2472002-12-31: 1,2972003-12-31: 1,3862004-12-31: 1,4232005-12-31: 1,5292006-12-31: 1,6302007-12-31: 1,6822008-12-31: 1,7082009-12-31: 1,6232010-12-31: 1,5912011-12-31: 1,6452012-12-31: 1,7002013-12-31: 1,6522014-12-31: 1,7292015-12-31: 1,7382016-12-31: 1,9132017-12-31: 2,0372018-12-31: 2,1202019-12-31: 2,2052020-12-31: 2,1462021-12-31: 2,2902022-12-31: 2,4382023-12-31: 2,639 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 1,059 to 2,639 · axis starts at 869

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Housing 2
£227,275
137k187k237k2020-01-31: 148k2020-02-29: 148k2020-03-31: 148k2020-04-30: 147k2020-05-31: 147k2020-06-30: 147k2020-07-31: 156k2020-08-31: 156k2020-09-30: 156k2020-10-31: 158k2020-11-30: 158k2020-12-31: 158k2021-01-31: 163k2021-02-28: 163k2021-03-31: 163k2021-04-30: 166k2021-05-31: 166k2021-06-30: 166k2021-07-31: 171k2021-08-31: 171k2021-09-30: 171k2021-10-31: 170k2021-11-30: 170k2021-12-31: 170k2022-01-31: 177k2022-02-28: 177k2022-03-31: 177k2022-04-30: 186k2022-05-31: 186k2022-06-30: 186k2022-07-31: 188k2022-08-31: 188k2022-09-30: 188k2022-10-31: 192k2022-11-30: 192k2022-12-31: 192k2023-01-31: 182k2023-02-28: 182k2023-03-31: 182k2023-04-30: 190k2023-05-31: 190k2023-06-30: 190k2023-07-31: 189k2023-08-31: 189k2023-09-30: 189k2023-10-31: 191k2023-11-30: 191k2023-12-31: 191k2024-01-31: 198k2024-02-29: 198k2024-03-31: 198k2024-04-30: 201k2024-05-31: 201k2024-06-30: 201k2024-07-31: 205k2024-08-31: 205k2024-09-30: 205k2024-10-31: 207k2024-11-30: 207k2024-12-31: 207k2025-01-31: 209k2025-02-28: 209k2025-03-31: 209k2025-04-30: 212k2025-05-31: 212k2025-06-30: 212k2025-07-31: 223k2025-08-31: 223k2025-09-30: 223k2025-10-31: 220k2025-11-30: 220k2025-12-31: 220k2026-01-31: 226k2026-02-28: 226k2026-03-31: 226k2026-04-30: 227k2026-05-31: 227k2026-06-30: 227k2026-07-31: 227k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 147k to 227k · axis starts at 137k

HM Land Registry / ONS, UK House Price Index, published 19 September 2026 (approximate)

Homes sold
Jul 2026
—
432143842020-01-31: 1862020-02-29: 1862020-03-31: 1862020-04-30: 762020-05-31: 762020-06-30: 762020-07-31: 2072020-08-31: 2072020-09-30: 2072020-10-31: 3512020-11-30: 3512020-12-31: 3512021-01-31: 3252021-02-28: 3252021-03-31: 3252021-04-30: 3412021-05-31: 3412021-06-30: 3412021-07-31: 3332021-08-31: 3332021-09-30: 3332021-10-31: 2502021-11-30: 2502021-12-31: 2502022-01-31: 2312022-02-28: 2312022-03-31: 2312022-04-30: 2502022-05-31: 2502022-06-30: 2502022-07-31: 2682022-08-31: 2682022-09-30: 2682022-10-31: 2412022-11-30: 2412022-12-31: 2412023-01-31: 1762023-02-28: 1762023-03-31: 1762023-04-30: 2012023-05-31: 2012023-06-30: 2012023-07-31: 2312023-08-31: 2312023-09-30: 2312023-10-31: 2192023-11-30: 2192023-12-31: 2192024-01-31: 1772024-02-29: 1772024-03-31: 1772024-04-30: 2252024-05-31: 2252024-06-30: 2252024-07-31: 2522024-08-31: 2522024-09-30: 2522024-10-31: 2732024-11-30: 2732024-12-31: 2732025-01-31: 2802025-02-28: 2802025-03-31: 2802025-04-30: 2042025-05-31: 2042025-06-30: 2042025-07-31: 2732025-08-31: 2732025-09-30: 2732025-10-31: 2672025-11-30: 2672025-12-31: 2672026-01-31: 2192026-02-28: 2192026-03-31: 2192026-04-30: 2312026-05-31: 231 2020-01 2026-05
77 monthly readings · 76 to 351 · axis starts at 43

HM Land Registry / ONS, UK House Price Index, published 19 September 2026 (approximate)
Not published: Not yet published
2 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Population 1
Population
2025
—
148k157k167k2001-06-30: 150k2002-06-30: 150k2003-06-30: 150k2004-06-30: 151k2005-06-30: 152k2006-06-30: 153k2007-06-30: 154k2008-06-30: 155k2009-06-30: 156k2010-06-30: 157k2011-06-30: 157k2012-06-30: 158k2013-06-30: 158k2014-06-30: 158k2015-06-30: 159k2016-06-30: 160k2017-06-30: 161k2018-06-30: 162k2019-06-30: 163k2020-06-30: 163k2021-06-30: 164k2022-06-30: 164k2023-06-30: 165k2024-06-30: 165k 2001-06 2024-06
24 annual readings · 150k to 165k · axis starts at 148k

ONS, Mid-year population estimates
Not published: These figures are missing.
21 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.