UK economic inactivity rate: East Midlands aged 16 to 64
UK economic inactivity rate: East Midlands aged 16 to 64 stood at 20.3% in Jun 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Labour market table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Apr 1992 to Jun 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market table
| Indicator | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | 09-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic inactivity rate by region, aged 16 to 64 | |||||||||||
| East Midlands | 20.3 | 20.3 | 20.5 | 20.4 | 20.5 | 20.3 | 19.6 | 19.9 | 20.2 | 20.2 | |
| Wales | 23.8 | 23.8 | 23.6 | 24.6 | 25 | 25.2 | 25.3 | 24.9 | 24.5 | 24.4 |
Understanding UK economic inactivity rate: East Midlands aged 16 to 64
Residents aged sixteen through sixty-four living within the designated midland boundary who remain outside the active workforce form the basis of this proportion. The calculation sets non-participating individuals against the total resident population sharing those exact age parameters. This specific metric captures the share of working-age adults neither working nor seeking employment, differentiating itself from unemployment rates by excluding jobseekers and from employment rates by leaving out those with jobs.
Reading these monthly estimates requires accounting for survey sample variance, which produces wider confidence intervals for regional series than for aggregate figures. Revisions follow population rebasing exercises that adjust historical weights. Analysts should rely on twelve-month comparisons to evaluate underlying shifts, as consecutive month data can be distorted by seasonal factors. Researchers must avoid treating this statistic as a measure of registered jobseekers.
Frequently asked questions
- Does this indicator measure people claiming unemployment benefits?
- No, it measures survey respondents who are neither working nor looking for work.
- How does this differ from the employment rate for the same residents?
- The employment rate counts those with jobs, whereas this rate counts those without jobs who are also not seeking work.
- Why are rolling periods or annual comparisons recommended over single-month changes?
- Sample size constraints and seasonal patterns introduce noise into monthly sub-national numbers.