The Datum Report

Local area

Bedford

What we think is happening

The job market in Bedford has been getting stronger.

improving · established confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

What is distinctive here

These moved unusually against comparable areas, and did not simply move with them. A change shared with everywhere else is a fact about the country, not this place.

MeasurePeriodValueChangeAgainst peers
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 11.0% +1.7 in the top 4% of 171
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 29.7% +6.4 in the top 2% of 171

By subject

Every figure published for Bedford. Open a subject to see them, each with its history and its source. Where a producer splits the area into many categories, those sit behind a further disclosure.

Labour market 11
11.0%
4.69.314.02020-03-31: 10.72020-06-30: 9.62020-09-30: 8.92020-12-31: 8.62021-03-31: 8.22021-06-30: 8.42021-09-30: 10.32021-12-31: 11.02022-03-31: 9.12022-06-30: 8.52022-09-30: 7.12022-12-31: 6.82023-03-31: 5.52023-06-30: 7.82023-09-30: 8.62023-12-31: 12.12024-03-31: 13.12024-06-30: 8.72024-09-30: 8.22024-12-31: 6.12025-03-31: 6.82025-06-30: 9.32025-09-30: 7.82025-12-31: 9.32026-03-31: 11 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.5 to 13.1 · axis starts at 4.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.9, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
81.7%
71.479.287.12020-03-31: 79.22020-06-30: 83.02020-09-30: 85.52020-12-31: 84.52021-03-31: 83.92021-06-30: 78.62021-09-30: 76.72021-12-31: 73.32022-03-31: 73.92022-06-30: 72.92022-09-30: 73.92022-12-31: 75.82023-03-31: 77.12023-06-30: 78.62023-09-30: 77.62023-12-31: 80.92024-03-31: 82.02024-06-30: 81.32024-09-30: 80.22024-12-31: 77.52025-03-31: 78.12025-06-30: 77.32025-09-30: 82.92025-12-31: 80.52026-03-31: 81.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 72.9 to 85.5 · axis starts at 71.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.8, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
—
0.94.17.22020-03-31: 42020-06-30: 3.92020-09-30: 2.82020-12-31: 3.62021-03-31: 3.32021-06-30: 4.72021-09-30: 5.32021-12-31: 4.02022-03-31: 2.42022-06-30: 1.92022-09-30: 1.92022-12-31: 1.52023-03-31: 2.82023-06-30: 3.82023-09-30: 4.92023-12-31: 6.62024-03-31: 5.12024-06-30: 4.82024-09-30: 4.22024-12-31: 3.92025-03-31: 4.12025-06-30: 2.62025-09-30: 1.72025-12-31: 2.8 2020-03 2025-12
24 monthly readings · 1.5 to 6.6 · axis starts at 0.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
Not published: Estimate and confidence interval not available since the group sample size is zero or disclosive (0-2)
1 earlier period withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

17.3%
10.418.827.22020-03-31: 17.52020-06-30: 13.62020-09-30: 12.02020-12-31: 12.42021-03-31: 13.12021-06-30: 17.52021-09-30: 19.02021-12-31: 23.72022-03-31: 24.22022-06-30: 25.62022-09-30: 24.52022-12-31: 23.22023-03-31: 20.82023-06-30: 18.32023-09-30: 18.42023-12-31: 13.32024-03-31: 13.52024-06-30: 14.72024-09-30: 16.42024-12-31: 19.32025-03-31: 18.52025-06-30: 20.72025-09-30: 15.82025-12-31: 17.22026-03-31: 17.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 12.0 to 25.6 · axis starts at 10.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.7, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
5,460
2,9835,4487,9122020-01-31: 3,4602020-02-29: 3,5102020-03-31: 3,5102020-04-30: 5,6702020-05-31: 7,3202020-06-30: 7,1152020-07-31: 7,2852020-08-31: 7,3552020-09-30: 7,2902020-10-31: 6,8852020-11-30: 6,9352020-12-31: 6,8502021-01-31: 6,8102021-02-28: 7,3202021-03-31: 7,4352021-04-30: 7,3052021-05-31: 6,8652021-06-30: 6,3252021-07-31: 6,2452021-08-31: 6,0452021-09-30: 5,7502021-10-31: 5,5452021-11-30: 5,3902021-12-31: 5,2102022-01-31: 5,0402022-02-28: 5,0452022-03-31: 4,9002022-04-30: 4,6602022-05-31: 4,5202022-06-30: 4,3902022-07-31: 4,2852022-08-31: 4,3002022-09-30: 4,3052022-10-31: 4,2452022-11-30: 4,2102022-12-31: 4,2152023-01-31: 4,2402023-02-28: 4,3502023-03-31: 4,4502023-04-30: 4,6352023-05-31: 4,5252023-06-30: 4,4952023-07-31: 4,6902023-08-31: 4,6652023-09-30: 4,6602023-10-31: 4,7402023-11-30: 4,6752023-12-31: 4,7352024-01-31: 4,7102024-02-29: 4,7752024-03-31: 4,7302024-04-30: 4,6902024-05-31: 4,7302024-06-30: 4,7702024-07-31: 5,2902024-08-31: 5,3502024-09-30: 5,3352024-10-31: 5,2502024-11-30: 5,1252024-12-31: 5,1452025-01-31: 5,1752025-02-28: 5,4552025-03-31: 5,5002025-04-30: 5,4102025-05-31: 5,3902025-06-30: 5,3702025-07-31: 5,2652025-08-31: 5,2252025-09-30: 5,2602025-10-31: 5,3152025-11-30: 5,1902025-12-31: 5,1652026-01-31: 5,0752026-02-28: 5,3352026-03-31: 5,3652026-04-30: 5,2852026-05-31: 5,3002026-06-30: 5,3252026-07-31: 5,2652026-08-31: 5,460 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 3,460 to 7,435 · axis starts at 2,983

ONS / DWP, Claimant count by sex and age, published 15 September 2026

4.5%
4.24.34.52026-01-31: 4.22026-02-28: 4.42026-03-31: 4.42026-04-30: 4.32026-05-31: 4.32026-06-30: 4.42026-07-31: 4.32026-08-31: 4.5 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 4.2 to 4.5 · axis starts at 4.2

ONS / DWP, Claimant count by sex and age, published 15 September 2026
72 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

% of economically inactive 5
—

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
Not published: Estimate and confidence interval not available since the group sample size is zero or disclosive (0-2)
25 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

19.4%
6.222.338.32020-03-31: 31.72020-06-30: 29.22020-09-30: 17.32020-12-31: 17.62021-03-31: 16.42021-06-30: 15.72021-09-30: 162021-12-31: 12.42022-03-31: 11.52022-06-30: 11.92022-09-30: 13.22022-12-31: 14.32023-03-31: 14.22023-06-30: 15.32023-09-30: 9.32023-12-31: 12.92024-03-31: 14.22024-06-30: 27.12024-09-30: 30.62024-12-31: 32.92025-03-31: 35.22025-06-30: 28.72025-09-30: 20.12025-12-31: 20.12026-03-31: 19.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 9.3 to 35.2 · axis starts at 6.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026

15.3%
2.916.430.02020-03-31: 9.72020-06-30: 5.62020-09-30: 15.02020-12-31: 10.72021-03-31: 15.72021-06-30: 19.52021-09-30: 19.52021-12-31: 24.12022-03-31: 23.82022-06-30: 23.72022-09-30: 19.52022-12-31: 16.32023-03-31: 24.82023-06-30: 22.12023-09-30: 24.92023-12-31: 27.32024-03-31: 21.32024-06-30: 20.62024-09-30: 17.92024-12-31: 16.92025-03-31: 14.62025-06-30: 13.52025-09-30: 13.62025-12-31: 17.62026-03-31: 15.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.6 to 27.3 · axis starts at 2.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026

21.3%
11.524.738.02020-03-31: 29.02020-06-30: 34.72020-09-30: 35.42020-12-31: 31.32021-03-31: 21.42021-06-30: 21.62021-09-30: 15.52021-12-31: 14.12022-03-31: 16.72022-06-30: 15.62022-09-30: 16.32022-12-31: 24.52023-03-31: 17.02023-06-30: 15.82023-09-30: 16.12023-12-31: 14.42024-03-31: 24.12024-06-30: 18.12024-09-30: 24.32024-12-31: 23.72025-03-31: 23.62025-06-30: 17.02025-09-30: 17.22025-12-31: 242026-03-31: 21.3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.1 to 35.4 · axis starts at 11.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±12.4, basis not documented by the producer

29.7%
16.930.243.52020-03-31: 19.92020-06-30: 19.42020-09-30: 21.32020-12-31: 22.92021-03-31: 32.92021-06-30: 30.32021-09-30: 38.52021-12-31: 41.02022-03-31: 38.52022-06-30: 38.12022-09-30: 38.52022-12-31: 35.12023-03-31: 32.62023-06-30: 35.82023-09-30: 40.42023-12-31: 28.82024-03-31: 26.22024-06-30: 24.52024-09-30: 20.22024-12-31: 21.32025-03-31: 20.62025-06-30: 34.52025-09-30: 38.52025-12-31: 23.32026-03-31: 29.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 19.4 to 41.0 · axis starts at 16.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±13.8, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£24,626
9,64218k26k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 12k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 13k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 14k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 15k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 16k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 17k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 19k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 20k2019-12-31: 21k2020-12-31: 21k2021-12-31: 21k2022-12-31: 23k2023-12-31: 23k2024-12-31: 25k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 25k · axis starts at 9,642

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,706
1,7642,2862,8072020-01-31: 1,8902020-02-29: 1,9042020-03-31: 1,9162020-04-30: 1,8672020-05-31: 1,8652020-06-30: 1,8942020-07-31: 1,9262020-08-31: 1,9432020-09-30: 1,9662020-10-31: 1,9802020-11-30: 1,9972020-12-31: 2,0352021-01-31: 1,9762021-02-28: 1,9902021-03-31: 2,0292021-04-30: 2,0462021-05-31: 2,0292021-06-30: 2,0372021-07-31: 2,0432021-08-31: 2,0542021-09-30: 2,0952021-10-31: 2,1042021-11-30: 2,1142021-12-31: 2,1662022-01-31: 2,1202022-02-28: 2,1222022-03-31: 2,1742022-04-30: 2,1502022-05-31: 2,1562022-06-30: 2,1692022-07-31: 2,1712022-08-31: 2,1942022-09-30: 2,2422022-10-31: 2,2492022-11-30: 2,3082022-12-31: 2,2912023-01-31: 2,2592023-02-28: 2,2642023-03-31: 2,2882023-04-30: 2,2952023-05-31: 2,3282023-06-30: 2,3752023-07-31: 2,3332023-08-31: 2,3352023-09-30: 2,3592023-10-31: 2,3642023-11-30: 2,4202023-12-31: 2,4272024-01-31: 2,3752024-02-29: 2,3852024-03-31: 2,4112024-04-30: 2,4362024-05-31: 2,4472024-06-30: 2,4472024-07-31: 2,4582024-08-31: 2,4652024-09-30: 2,4792024-10-31: 2,5462024-11-30: 2,5452024-12-31: 2,5492025-01-31: 2,5162025-02-28: 2,5302025-03-31: 2,5422025-04-30: 2,5762025-05-31: 2,5822025-06-30: 2,5702025-07-31: 2,5942025-08-31: 2,6252025-09-30: 2,6132025-10-31: 2,6242025-11-30: 2,6222025-12-31: 2,6532026-01-31: 2,6192026-02-28: 2,6292026-03-31: 2,6562026-04-30: 2,6912026-05-31: 2,7022026-06-30: 2,6992026-07-31: 2,706 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,865 to 2,706 · axis starts at 1,764

ONS, Earnings and employment from PAYE Real Time Information, published 22 August 2026 (approximate)
no published uncertainty; this figure is our own aggregation
Our aggregation of local authorities, with no published interval.

89,553
81k86k91k2020-01-31: 84k2020-02-29: 84k2020-03-31: 84k2020-04-30: 83k2020-05-31: 82k2020-06-30: 82k2020-07-31: 83k2020-08-31: 82k2020-09-30: 82k2020-10-31: 83k2020-11-30: 83k2020-12-31: 83k2021-01-31: 83k2021-02-28: 82k2021-03-31: 83k2021-04-30: 83k2021-05-31: 84k2021-06-30: 84k2021-07-31: 85k2021-08-31: 85k2021-09-30: 85k2021-10-31: 85k2021-11-30: 86k2021-12-31: 86k2022-01-31: 85k2022-02-28: 86k2022-03-31: 86k2022-04-30: 86k2022-05-31: 86k2022-06-30: 87k2022-07-31: 87k2022-08-31: 87k2022-09-30: 87k2022-10-31: 87k2022-11-30: 88k2022-12-31: 88k2023-01-31: 87k2023-02-28: 87k2023-03-31: 88k2023-04-30: 88k2023-05-31: 88k2023-06-30: 88k2023-07-31: 89k2023-08-31: 88k2023-09-30: 89k2023-10-31: 89k2023-11-30: 89k2023-12-31: 89k2024-01-31: 89k2024-02-29: 89k2024-03-31: 89k2024-04-30: 89k2024-05-31: 89k2024-06-30: 90k2024-07-31: 90k2024-08-31: 90k2024-09-30: 90k2024-10-31: 90k2024-11-30: 90k2024-12-31: 90k2025-01-31: 89k2025-02-28: 89k2025-03-31: 89k2025-04-30: 89k2025-05-31: 89k2025-06-30: 89k2025-07-31: 90k2025-08-31: 89k2025-09-30: 89k2025-10-31: 89k2025-11-30: 90k2025-12-31: 90k2026-01-31: 89k2026-02-28: 89k2026-03-31: 89k2026-04-30: 89k2026-05-31: 89k2026-06-30: 89k2026-07-31: 90k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 82k to 90k · axis starts at 81k

ONS, Earnings and employment from PAYE Real Time Information, published 22 August 2026 (approximate)
no published uncertainty; this figure is our own aggregation
Our aggregation of local authorities, with no published interval.

Business 12
Businesses
2025
7,225
5,1306,4227,7152010-03-31: 5,4552011-03-31: 5,3802012-03-31: 5,4702013-03-31: 5,5102014-03-31: 5,8102015-03-31: 6,2702016-03-31: 6,5852017-03-31: 6,9602018-03-31: 6,9152019-03-31: 7,0452020-03-31: 7,2052021-03-31: 7,3252022-03-31: 7,4652023-03-31: 7,2602024-03-31: 7,2352025-03-31: 7,225 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5,380 to 7,465 · axis starts at 5,130

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises, published 14 October 2025

5,725
3,9445,0356,1262010-03-31: 4,2152011-03-31: 4,1552012-03-31: 4,2002013-03-31: 4,2002014-03-31: 4,4352015-03-31: 4,8352016-03-31: 5,2052017-03-31: 5,5602018-03-31: 5,5102019-03-31: 5,6402020-03-31: 5,7702021-03-31: 5,8702022-03-31: 5,9152023-03-31: 5,7352024-03-31: 5,7402025-03-31: 5,725 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,155 to 5,915 · axis starts at 3,944

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

375
2803323852010-03-31: 3152011-03-31: 2902012-03-31: 3052013-03-31: 3102014-03-31: 3302015-03-31: 3502016-03-31: 3602017-03-31: 3502018-03-31: 3652019-03-31: 3602020-03-31: 3652021-03-31: 3602022-03-31: 3652023-03-31: 3752024-03-31: 3702025-03-31: 375 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 290 to 375 · axis starts at 280

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

50
27.64052.42010-03-31: 352011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 302013-03-31: 302014-03-31: 302015-03-31: 302016-03-31: 302017-03-31: 302018-03-31: 352019-03-31: 352020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 352023-03-31: 452024-03-31: 502025-03-31: 50 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 50 · axis starts at 27.6

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

10
4.47.510.62010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 52013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 52019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 52023-03-31: 52024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5 to 10 · axis starts at 4.4

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

215
1421822232010-03-31: 1502011-03-31: 1602012-03-31: 1652013-03-31: 1752014-03-31: 1852015-03-31: 1902016-03-31: 1752017-03-31: 1802018-03-31: 1752019-03-31: 1752020-03-31: 1852021-03-31: 1902022-03-31: 1952023-03-31: 2052024-03-31: 2152025-03-31: 215 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 150 to 215 · axis starts at 142

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

10
3.81016.22010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 10 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5 to 15 · axis starts at 3.8

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

760
6377558732010-03-31: 6602011-03-31: 6652012-03-31: 6852013-03-31: 7102014-03-31: 7352015-03-31: 7702016-03-31: 7152017-03-31: 7352018-03-31: 7202019-03-31: 7252020-03-31: 7502021-03-31: 7602022-03-31: 8502023-03-31: 8052024-03-31: 7702025-03-31: 760 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 660 to 850 · axis starts at 637

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

75
5267.5832010-03-31: 552011-03-31: 552012-03-31: 602013-03-31: 602014-03-31: 702015-03-31: 752016-03-31: 802017-03-31: 752018-03-31: 752019-03-31: 752020-03-31: 752021-03-31: 752022-03-31: 802023-03-31: 752024-03-31: 652025-03-31: 75 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 55 to 80 · axis starts at 52

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

5
4.47.510.62010-03-31: 52011-03-31: 52012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 102015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 52022-03-31: 52023-03-31: 52024-03-31: 52025-03-31: 5 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5 to 10 · axis starts at 4.4

ONS, UK Business Counts - enterprises by size band, published 14 October 2025

8,350
6,2397,5388,8362010-03-31: 6,6252011-03-31: 6,4902012-03-31: 6,6002013-03-31: 6,6752014-03-31: 6,9502015-03-31: 7,4252016-03-31: 7,7202017-03-31: 8,0852018-03-31: 8,0502019-03-31: 8,1752020-03-31: 8,3602021-03-31: 8,4402022-03-31: 8,5852023-03-31: 8,3702024-03-31: 8,3552025-03-31: 8,350 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 6,490 to 8,585 · axis starts at 6,239

ONS, UK Business Counts - local units, published 14 October 2025

5,151
1,6793,6015,5231998-12-31: 2,0511999-12-31: 2,1552000-12-31: 2,2552001-12-31: 2,3632002-12-31: 2,4612003-12-31: 2,5922004-12-31: 2,6642005-12-31: 2,8752006-12-31: 2,9662007-12-31: 3,0692008-12-31: 3,2322009-12-31: 3,1282010-12-31: 3,0852011-12-31: 3,0512012-12-31: 3,1312013-12-31: 3,2302014-12-31: 3,4392015-12-31: 3,5602016-12-31: 3,6832017-12-31: 3,9782018-12-31: 4,0192019-12-31: 4,2382020-12-31: 3,8912021-12-31: 4,3172022-12-31: 4,8072023-12-31: 5,151 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 2,051 to 5,151 · axis starts at 1,679

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Bedford

Bedford