North West economic inactivity rate in England
North West economic inactivity rate in England stood at 22.7% in Mar 2026, according to Nomis — official labour market statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Labour market structure table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Dec 2004 to Mar 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market structure table
| Indicator | 03-2026 | 12-2025 | 09-2025 | 06-2025 | 03-2025 | 12-2024 | 09-2024 | 06-2024 | 03-2024 | 12-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic inactivity rate, aged 16 to 64 | |||||||||||
| North West | 22.7 | 22.7 | 22.5 | 22.7 | 23.3 | 23.6 | 23.8 | 23.8 | 23.2 | 23.3 | |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 23 | 23.2 | 23.6 | 23.5 | 24 | 24.4 | 24.8 | 24.8 | 24.3 | 23.2 |
Understanding north West economic inactivity rate in England
This indicator tracks the share of the resident population aged sixteen to sixty-four in the North West of England who are economically inactive, encompassing everyone of working age who is neither in employment nor classified as unemployed. Sourced from household survey data spanning the United Kingdom, the series isolates this populous region to monitor local labour reserve levels. The denominator covers all residents in the specified age range within the area, regardless of their labour market status.
Users should evaluate this metric alongside health, student, and demographic statistics to understand the underlying composition of non-participation. Because regional cuts of household surveys are subject to sampling fluctuations, month-to-month changes should be interpreted cautiously in favour of rolling annual trends. Revisions to population weights following official census updates can introduce level shifts, requiring verification that historical data has been recalculated on a consistent basis.
Frequently asked questions
- What population is included in the denominator for this regional inactivity rate?
- The denominator includes all resident civilians aged sixteen to sixty-four living in the North West of England.
- Are retired individuals under age sixty-five included in this series?
- Yes, anyone aged sixteen to sixty-four who has retired and is not seeking work is counted within the economically inactive population.
- How can analysts distinguish between student inactivity and long-term sickness inactivity?
- While this headline rate aggregates all reasons for inactivity, sibling sub-tables provide breakdowns by specific reason such as study or health.