South West England unemployment rate: aged 16 to 64
South West England unemployment rate: aged 16 to 64 stood at 3.4% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate, aged 16 to 64 | |||||||||||
| South West | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 | |
| Wales | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.8 |
Understanding south West England unemployment rate: aged 16 to 64
This measure isolates the proportion of economically active residents aged sixteen to sixty-four in South West England who are unemployed, meeting international guidelines for joblessness, active job search, and work availability. Produced via household interview surveys across the United Kingdom, this series provides a regional lens on labour market spare capacity. It differentiates individuals actively seeking work from those in employment or outside the labour force entirely.
Users should interpret the data with an understanding of seasonal employment patterns common in regions with significant tourism and agricultural sectors, where job counts fluctuate across seasons. Because sample sizes for a single region carry higher margins of error than national aggregates, analysts should focus on medium-term trajectory rather than single-month movements. Comparing this series with local earnings data helps determine whether low joblessness translates into wage pressure.
Frequently asked questions
- How do seasonal industries affect this regional unemployment rate?
- Sectors such as tourism and agriculture can introduce seasonal hiring and firing cycles that influence the number of active job seekers throughout the year.
- Are unpaid family workers counted as unemployed in this series?
- Unpaid family workers who perform work for a business owned by a relative are classified as employed, not unemployed.
- What is the primary difference between this series and the claimant count?
- This series measures people actively searching for work regardless of benefit status, whereas the claimant count measures benefit recipients.