Research and analysis

State of the Nation 2026: Who’s getting ahead?

The Social Mobility Commission annual report updates its index, tracks long-term social mobility trends and local opportunities across the UK.

• From: Social Mobility Commission and The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP
• Published: 29 October 2026

Documents

State of the Nation 2026: Who’s getting ahead?

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

PDF, 19.9 MB, 160 pages

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Foreward, Executive summary

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

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Chapter 1: Introduction

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

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Chapter 2: Long-term trends of social mobility outcomes

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

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Chapter 3: Intermediate outcomes

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

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Chapter 4: Tracking drivers: important national trends

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

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Chapter 5: Geography that matters: travel-to-work area analysis

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

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Chapter 6: A changing job mix over time: census insights

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

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Chapter 7: Conclusions

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

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State of the Nation: data explorer tool

https://social-mobility.data.gov.uk/state-of-the-nation

State of the Nation 2026: Who’s getting ahead? (Easy Read)

PDF, 16.8 MB, 22 pages

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State of the Nation 2026: Who’s getting ahead? (large print)

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6819-4, E03687760

PDF, 95.7 MB, 278 pages

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State of the Nation 2026: Technical annex

PDF, 3.66 MB, 168 pages

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Details

State of the Nation 2026 is the Social Mobility Commission’s annual statutory report laid before Parliament in fulfillment of its duty under the Life Chances Act 2010. 

The publication provides a comprehensive, evidence-based assessment of intergenerational social mobility across the UK. It evaluates the extent to which a person’s socio-economic background influences their chances of success in education, occupation, income and housing.

The report is structured around the Social Mobility Index, which tracks 3 core pillars: 

• long-term mobility outcomes in adulthood
• intermediate outcomes during childhood and early adulthood
• drivers representing the background conditions that enable future mobility

The 2026 report introduces 3 major analytical updates: 

• 50-year trend tracking using linked census data from the Office for National Statistics Longitudinal Study
• local labour market mapping using travel-to-work areas rather than administrative boundaries
• a 20-year census analysis of changing occupational structures across local authorities

The purpose of the report is to provide policymakers, local government, employers, and educators with granular, objective evidence to inform targeted policy and place-based action. It moves beyond high-level national averages to highlight local variations and intersectional barriers facing different demographic groups. 

Alongside the main report, the publication is supported by an interactive online Data Explorer Tool. This allows users to explore social mobility data and track regional progress over time.