'Employers cutting back' - Fylde records weakest employment performance in North West
New figures show that Fylde has recorded the weakest employment performance across the North West, according to the latest payroll data for February 2026.
The number of employees on payroll in Fylde stood at 33,040, unchanged month-on-month but down -1.1% compared with the same period last year. This equates to a fall of 378 jobs over the past 12 months.
In the most recent month, businesses reported a decline of eight employees on payroll, indicating ongoing pressure on local jobs.
The data, based on analysis of Office for National Statistics figures by employment and pay app WageSight, places Fylde 39th out of 39 local authorities in the North West for employment change.
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The findings reflect a mixed picture across the wider region, with some areas seeing improvements while others continue to face challenges in maintaining payroll numbers. Nationally, employment trends have also been uneven over the past year, contributing to a difficult economic backdrop.
Paul Hebden, WageSight Director, said: “The latest figures underline the continued pressure on employment in Fylde. 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 beginning of a longer-term trend or a short-term fluctuation.