UK economic inactivity rate: Wales aged 16 to 64
UK economic inactivity rate: Wales aged 16 to 64 stood at 23.8% 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 | |||||||||||
| Wales | 23.8 | 23.8 | 23.6 | 24.6 | 25 | 25.2 | 25.3 | 24.9 | 24.5 | 24.4 | |
| North East | 24.7 | 25.1 | 24.6 | 25 | 23.8 | 24.2 | 24.5 | 25.7 | 25.7 | 25.2 |
Understanding UK economic inactivity rate: Wales aged 16 to 64
People aged 16 to 64 in Wales who are neither working nor looking for work make up this percentage measure. Unlike the unemployed, who want a job and actively seek one, economically inactive individuals include students, long-term sick, carers and early retirees residing within the Welsh boundary. This metric isolates detachment from the labour market rather than joblessness, separating those available for work from those who are not.
Sampling variability affects regional breakdowns more heavily than national totals, so analysts should monitor rolling three-month averages rather than single-month figures. Population reweighting exercises update these percentages periodically to align with demographic projections. Comparing the inactivity rate with the employment and unemployment rates provides a complete picture of labour utilisation within the region, though researchers must account for underlying health and education trends when interpreting shifts.
Frequently asked questions
- How does economic inactivity differ from unemployment in Wales?
- Unemployed individuals are actively looking for work and available to start, whereas inactive individuals are neither working nor seeking employment.
- Why use a three-month average for this regional series?
- Sample sizes for single months at the regional level are relatively small, making three-month periods more statistically reliable.
- Does this series include residents over the traditional retirement age?
- No, the denominator and numerator are strictly bounded to residents aged 16 to 64.