The number of employees on payroll on the Isle of Wight has fallen by 0.6% year-on-year, new data reveals.
According to the latest data for March 2026, payroll numbers decreased by 35 to 52,293, suggesting continued pressure on jobs across the Isle of Wight.
Overall, employment remains lower than a year ago, with the headcount down by 299, equivalent to a 0.6% decline year-on-year.
The figures are based on an analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics payroll data by employment and pay app WageSight.
Compared with other towns and cities in the South East, the Isle of Wight ranks 18th out of 21, placing it among the weakest performers for employment change.
The trend locally reflects a mixed picture across the wider South East, with some areas seeing improvements while others continue to experience pressure on payroll numbers.
Nationally, employment levels have also shown a mixed trend, creating a challenging backdrop.
Paul Hebden, WageSight Director, has said:
“The latest figures underline the continued pressure on employment in Isle of Wight.
“Payroll remains down compared with last year, and recent month-on-month data suggests employers are still cutting back.”
It remains unclear whether the recent changes signal the start of a longer-term shift or a temporary fluctuation.
It is certainly not clear with that mix of figures and none specific dates and numbers
Not surprising it’s a retirement island.
Join the uk then well done to Rach from accounts.
It’s absolutely nothing to do with Rachel Reeves, it originated in a Tory policy of a gig economy, whereby hard fought for workers rights to a CONTRACT were usurped by greedy employers being allowed to issue zero-hours but still call it ‘work’. ONE HOUR’s work meant that the unemployment figure’s could be massaged, and the Tories could say ‘look, low unemployment!’
It means that most of the working people who also have to (now) claim Universal Credit (the people you often like to call scum), cannot afford to live.
The ONS though has sought to changed the Tories massage of the figures though by changing the way data is collated; it now includes UC to some extent.
Had the Tories been honest in the first place, the figures then would have been far higher than today.
So much damage done in under 2 years and she is
still chancellor.
Employment shrinks + reversal of wfh trends > people can no longer commute > communters will relocate > house prices will crumble on the island