Standing view · labour_market · Herefordshire, County of
mixed, held with tentative confidence, formed on 5 October 2026 from movements in 2026-08.
The share who are economically inactive in Herefordshire, County of has been falling, while the number of people on payrolls has been rising. Those aged 16-64 who are economically inactive was 13.5 in the year to March 2026 and favourable against the usual pattern for its period. Payrolled employees was 79,930 in April 2026, 81,424 in May and 82,674 in June, each favourable, before 83,163 in July and unfavourable. The claimant count was 2,895 in March 2026 and 2,830 in June, both unfavourable, with the claimant proportion at 2.6 in April and favourable. Two series disagreeing is why this stays tentative.
A view is formed only where the evidence names a figure you can check. Each movement listed as a reason had to be large enough to matter and distinctive in at least one way — unusual against this area's own history, unusual against comparable areas, or sustained over several periods. A movement shared with peers counts for less, because it says something about the country rather than about Herefordshire, County of. Where no figure supports a direction we hold no view rather than a hedged one.
| Measure | Period | Direction |
|---|---|---|
| % who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 | 2026-03 | improving |
| Claimant count | 2026-03 | deteriorating |
| Claimants as a proportion of residents aged 16-64 | 2026-04 | improving |
| Payrolled employees | 2026-04 | improving |
| Payrolled employees | 2026-05 | improving |
| Claimant count | 2026-06 | deteriorating |
| Payrolled employees | 2026-06 | improving |
| Payrolled employees | 2026-07 | deteriorating |