The Datum Report

Local area

Central Bedfordshire

What we think is happening

Pay in Central Bedfordshire has been growing.

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

Other standing views

Labour market

The share of people in work in Central Bedfordshire has been rising, though other measures here have run the other way.

tentative confidence · 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
Employment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 85.4% +2.9 in the top 2% of 171
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 3.0% -1.3 in the bottom 6% of 169
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 13.0% +2.0 in the top 2% of 171

Moving with the rest of the country

Shown separately because these say something about the country rather than about Central Bedfordshire.

By subject

Every figure published for Central Bedfordshire. 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
13.0%
5.09.413.92020-03-31: 9.72020-06-30: 9.12020-09-30: 8.72020-12-31: 8.92021-03-31: 7.52021-06-30: 9.52021-09-30: 9.22021-12-31: 7.12022-03-31: 9.02022-06-30: 5.92022-09-30: 7.12022-12-31: 9.52023-03-31: 9.62023-06-30: 10.32023-09-30: 9.92023-12-31: 7.92024-03-31: 5.82024-06-30: 7.62024-09-30: 8.82024-12-31: 8.92025-03-31: 8.42025-06-30: 11.62025-09-30: 12.22025-12-31: 112026-03-31: 13 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 5.8 to 13 · axis starts at 5.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.3, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
85.4%
78.282.286.22020-03-31: 80.72020-06-30: 81.62020-09-30: 81.42020-12-31: 80.72021-03-31: 79.62021-06-30: 79.02021-09-30: 81.42021-12-31: 80.72022-03-31: 80.92022-06-30: 80.22022-09-30: 80.82022-12-31: 81.02023-03-31: 80.82023-06-30: 81.32023-09-30: 82.92023-12-31: 83.82024-03-31: 82.82024-06-30: 81.52024-09-30: 79.42024-12-31: 80.62025-03-31: 80.82025-06-30: 80.82025-09-30: 79.52025-12-31: 82.52026-03-31: 85.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 79.0 to 85.4 · axis starts at 78.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.5, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.0%
0.73.15.42020-03-31: 1.42020-06-30: 1.32020-09-30: 1.62020-12-31: 2.72021-03-31: 2.62021-06-30: 2.52021-09-30: 2.42021-12-31: 1.12022-03-31: 1.82022-06-30: 2.52022-09-30: 2.62022-12-31: 2.82023-03-31: 2.92023-06-30: 2.92023-09-30: 2.72023-12-31: 2.12024-03-31: 2.92024-06-30: 2.82024-09-30: 2.82024-12-31: 3.62025-03-31: 3.32025-06-30: 4.22025-09-30: 5.02025-12-31: 4.32026-03-31: 3 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 1.1 to 5.0 · axis starts at 0.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026

12.0%
11.215.519.82020-03-31: 18.22020-06-30: 17.42020-09-30: 17.32020-12-31: 17.12021-03-31: 18.22021-06-30: 18.92021-09-30: 16.62021-12-31: 18.32022-03-31: 17.62022-06-30: 17.72022-09-30: 17.12022-12-31: 16.72023-03-31: 16.72023-06-30: 16.32023-09-30: 14.92023-12-31: 14.42024-03-31: 14.72024-06-30: 16.22024-09-30: 18.42024-12-31: 16.32025-03-31: 16.42025-06-30: 15.72025-09-30: 16.32025-12-31: 13.82026-03-31: 12 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 12 to 18.9 · axis starts at 11.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±3.2, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
5,150
1,8515,3608,8692020-01-31: 2,5302020-02-29: 2,7252020-03-31: 2,7502020-04-30: 5,6652020-05-31: 8,1902020-06-30: 7,5752020-07-31: 7,7052020-08-31: 8,0052020-09-30: 7,7802020-10-31: 7,2102020-11-30: 7,1852020-12-31: 7,1152021-01-31: 6,9702021-02-28: 7,4502021-03-31: 7,4552021-04-30: 7,3702021-05-31: 6,7602021-06-30: 6,1952021-07-31: 6,0352021-08-31: 5,8452021-09-30: 5,5202021-10-31: 5,3352021-11-30: 5,1602021-12-31: 4,8902022-01-31: 4,7252022-02-28: 4,7052022-03-31: 4,5402022-04-30: 4,3952022-05-31: 4,2002022-06-30: 4,0552022-07-31: 4,0052022-08-31: 4,0202022-09-30: 4,0102022-10-31: 3,9652022-11-30: 3,8552022-12-31: 3,8502023-01-31: 3,9302023-02-28: 4,0152023-03-31: 4,0652023-04-30: 4,1652023-05-31: 4,0152023-06-30: 4,0352023-07-31: 4,0152023-08-31: 3,9702023-09-30: 4,0402023-10-31: 4,0402023-11-30: 4,0402023-12-31: 4,1302024-01-31: 4,1352024-02-29: 4,2002024-03-31: 4,2302024-04-30: 4,2202024-05-31: 4,2552024-06-30: 4,4302024-07-31: 4,7652024-08-31: 4,8552024-09-30: 4,8952024-10-31: 4,8952024-11-30: 4,8502024-12-31: 4,7852025-01-31: 4,8952025-02-28: 5,0352025-03-31: 5,0252025-04-30: 4,9802025-05-31: 4,9652025-06-30: 5,0202025-07-31: 4,9502025-08-31: 4,9502025-09-30: 5,0052025-10-31: 4,9802025-11-30: 4,9802025-12-31: 4,8902026-01-31: 4,9252026-02-28: 5,1202026-03-31: 5,1202026-04-30: 5,0702026-05-31: 5,1152026-06-30: 5,0952026-07-31: 5,0102026-08-31: 5,150 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 2,530 to 8,190 · axis starts at 1,851

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

2.6%
2.52.52.62026-01-31: 2.52026-02-28: 2.62026-03-31: 2.62026-04-30: 2.62026-05-31: 2.62026-06-30: 2.62026-07-31: 2.62026-08-31: 2.6 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 2.5 to 2.6 · axis starts at 2.5

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.

31.6%
15.930.945.92020-03-31: 22.12020-06-30: 20.72020-09-30: 21.12020-12-31: 21.02021-03-31: 22.92021-06-30: 22.12021-09-30: 22.62021-12-31: 25.32022-03-31: 24.72022-06-30: 27.52022-09-30: 28.72022-12-31: 43.02023-03-31: 28.32023-06-30: 25.22023-09-30: 31.42023-12-31: 25.92024-03-31: 31.62024-06-30: 37.82024-09-30: 28.62024-12-31: 23.42025-03-31: 24.32025-06-30: 18.82025-09-30: 23.32025-12-31: 29.72026-03-31: 31.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18.8 to 43.0 · axis starts at 15.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±13.2, basis not documented by the producer

13.8%
8.916.323.72020-03-31: 17.22020-06-30: 17.52020-09-30: 16.02020-12-31: 17.22021-03-31: 17.72021-06-30: 15.42021-09-30: 13.42021-12-31: 14.62022-03-31: 12.02022-06-30: 12.72022-09-30: 10.82022-12-31: 12.42023-03-31: 18.32023-06-30: 22.32023-09-30: 20.62023-12-31: 17.32024-03-31: 15.42024-06-30: 11.52024-09-30: 15.52024-12-31: 18.42025-03-31: 18.62025-06-30: 15.72025-09-30: 10.32025-12-31: 15.22026-03-31: 13.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 10.3 to 22.3 · axis starts at 8.9

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

14.1%
11.218.024.82020-03-31: 17.52020-06-30: 19.72020-09-30: 16.92020-12-31: 16.52021-03-31: 14.92021-06-30: 12.52021-09-30: 15.12021-12-31: 17.62022-03-31: 13.02022-06-30: 13.02022-09-30: 16.92022-12-31: 17.92023-03-31: 23.52023-06-30: 202023-09-30: 18.42023-12-31: 17.72024-03-31: 21.32024-06-30: 20.62024-09-30: 21.72024-12-31: 18.12025-03-31: 15.32025-06-30: 12.52025-09-30: 15.92025-12-31: 15.22026-03-31: 14.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 12.5 to 23.5 · axis starts at 11.2

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

32.8%
6.923.339.62020-03-31: 25.52020-06-30: 21.72020-09-30: 25.92020-12-31: 21.42021-03-31: 22.62021-06-30: 30.82021-09-30: 35.42021-12-31: 34.52022-03-31: 36.42022-06-30: 28.72022-09-30: 23.62022-12-31: 10.12023-03-31: 11.62023-06-30: 17.72023-09-30: 18.12023-12-31: 17.72024-03-31: 18.42024-06-30: 16.92024-09-30: 23.22024-12-31: 28.42025-03-31: 30.62025-06-30: 25.82025-09-30: 25.62025-12-31: 322026-03-31: 32.8 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 10.1 to 36.4 · axis starts at 6.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±13.3, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£26,560
10k19k28k1997-12-31: 12k1998-12-31: 12k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 13k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 14k2003-12-31: 14k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 16k2007-12-31: 16k2008-12-31: 16k2009-12-31: 17k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 18k2013-12-31: 19k2014-12-31: 19k2015-12-31: 20k2016-12-31: 20k2017-12-31: 21k2018-12-31: 22k2019-12-31: 22k2020-12-31: 22k2021-12-31: 23k2022-12-31: 24k2023-12-31: 25k2024-12-31: 27k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 12k to 27k · axis starts at 10k

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,889
1,9282,4602,9922020-01-31: 2,0722020-02-29: 2,0912020-03-31: 2,0972020-04-30: 2,0332020-05-31: 2,0312020-06-30: 2,0542020-07-31: 2,0972020-08-31: 2,1142020-09-30: 2,1342020-10-31: 2,1562020-11-30: 2,1792020-12-31: 2,2112021-01-31: 2,1642021-02-28: 2,1742021-03-31: 2,2032021-04-30: 2,2122021-05-31: 2,2122021-06-30: 2,2202021-07-31: 2,2202021-08-31: 2,2232021-09-30: 2,2482021-10-31: 2,2632021-11-30: 2,2802021-12-31: 2,3262022-01-31: 2,2832022-02-28: 2,2832022-03-31: 2,3402022-04-30: 2,3182022-05-31: 2,3342022-06-30: 2,3392022-07-31: 2,3442022-08-31: 2,3612022-09-30: 2,4002022-10-31: 2,4112022-11-30: 2,4872022-12-31: 2,4932023-01-31: 2,4342023-02-28: 2,4492023-03-31: 2,4892023-04-30: 2,4862023-05-31: 2,5152023-06-30: 2,5512023-07-31: 2,5142023-08-31: 2,5212023-09-30: 2,5262023-10-31: 2,5372023-11-30: 2,5952023-12-31: 2,6342024-01-31: 2,5612024-02-29: 2,5782024-03-31: 2,6102024-04-30: 2,6112024-05-31: 2,6282024-06-30: 2,6212024-07-31: 2,6382024-08-31: 2,6382024-09-30: 2,6532024-10-31: 2,7132024-11-30: 2,7432024-12-31: 2,7472025-01-31: 2,6992025-02-28: 2,7062025-03-31: 2,7382025-04-30: 2,7572025-05-31: 2,7622025-06-30: 2,7532025-07-31: 2,7702025-08-31: 2,7932025-09-30: 2,7982025-10-31: 2,8032025-11-30: 2,8122025-12-31: 2,8572026-01-31: 2,8072026-02-28: 2,8322026-03-31: 2,8702026-04-30: 2,8752026-05-31: 2,8832026-06-30: 2,8812026-07-31: 2,889 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 2,031 to 2,889 · axis starts at 1,928

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.

143,357
131k138k145k2020-01-31: 134k2020-02-29: 134k2020-03-31: 134k2020-04-30: 133k2020-05-31: 133k2020-06-30: 133k2020-07-31: 133k2020-08-31: 133k2020-09-30: 133k2020-10-31: 132k2020-11-30: 133k2020-12-31: 133k2021-01-31: 132k2021-02-28: 132k2021-03-31: 132k2021-04-30: 133k2021-05-31: 134k2021-06-30: 135k2021-07-31: 136k2021-08-31: 136k2021-09-30: 136k2021-10-31: 137k2021-11-30: 138k2021-12-31: 138k2022-01-31: 137k2022-02-28: 138k2022-03-31: 138k2022-04-30: 139k2022-05-31: 139k2022-06-30: 140k2022-07-31: 140k2022-08-31: 140k2022-09-30: 140k2022-10-31: 140k2022-11-30: 141k2022-12-31: 141k2023-01-31: 141k2023-02-28: 141k2023-03-31: 142k2023-04-30: 142k2023-05-31: 142k2023-06-30: 143k2023-07-31: 143k2023-08-31: 143k2023-09-30: 143k2023-10-31: 143k2023-11-30: 144k2023-12-31: 143k2024-01-31: 143k2024-02-29: 143k2024-03-31: 143k2024-04-30: 143k2024-05-31: 143k2024-06-30: 143k2024-07-31: 144k2024-08-31: 143k2024-09-30: 143k2024-10-31: 143k2024-11-30: 144k2024-12-31: 143k2025-01-31: 143k2025-02-28: 142k2025-03-31: 143k2025-04-30: 143k2025-05-31: 143k2025-06-30: 143k2025-07-31: 143k2025-08-31: 143k2025-09-30: 143k2025-10-31: 143k2025-11-30: 143k2025-12-31: 143k2026-01-31: 143k2026-02-28: 142k2026-03-31: 143k2026-04-30: 143k2026-05-31: 143k2026-06-30: 143k2026-07-31: 143k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 132k to 144k · axis starts at 131k

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
12,500
9,39113k16k2010-03-31: 10k2011-03-31: 10k2012-03-31: 10k2013-03-31: 10k2014-03-31: 11k2015-03-31: 12k2016-03-31: 13k2017-03-31: 16k2018-03-31: 13k2019-03-31: 14k2020-03-31: 12k2021-03-31: 12k2022-03-31: 12k2023-03-31: 12k2024-03-31: 12k2025-03-31: 12k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10k to 16k · axis starts at 9,391

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

10,110
7,53110k12k2010-03-31: 8,1352011-03-31: 8,0102012-03-31: 8,2102013-03-31: 8,2052014-03-31: 8,5252015-03-31: 9,1352016-03-31: 10k2017-03-31: 12k2018-03-31: 10k2019-03-31: 11k2020-03-31: 10k2021-03-31: 9,9302022-03-31: 9,9802023-03-31: 9,8252024-03-31: 10k2025-03-31: 10k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 8,010 to 12k · axis starts at 7,531

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

610
4536959372010-03-31: 5252011-03-31: 5002012-03-31: 5152013-03-31: 5602014-03-31: 6002015-03-31: 6302016-03-31: 6152017-03-31: 8902018-03-31: 6552019-03-31: 6102020-03-31: 6002021-03-31: 5702022-03-31: 5702023-03-31: 5752024-03-31: 5752025-03-31: 610 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 500 to 890 · axis starts at 453

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

45
28.237.546.82010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 352012-03-31: 402013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 452015-03-31: 402016-03-31: 452017-03-31: 402018-03-31: 452019-03-31: 402020-03-31: 402021-03-31: 402022-03-31: 402023-03-31: 452024-03-31: 402025-03-31: 45 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 30 to 45 · axis starts at 28.2

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

15
8.81521.22010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 102014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 15 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10 to 20 · axis starts at 8.8

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

330
2483103722010-03-31: 2702011-03-31: 2602012-03-31: 2802013-03-31: 3402014-03-31: 3602015-03-31: 3452016-03-31: 3452017-03-31: 3502018-03-31: 3302019-03-31: 3152020-03-31: 3252021-03-31: 3402022-03-31: 3502023-03-31: 3552024-03-31: 3452025-03-31: 330 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 260 to 360 · axis starts at 248

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

20
8.81521.22010-03-31: 152011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 152013-03-31: 152014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 152019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 152021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 152025-03-31: 20 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 10 to 20 · axis starts at 8.8

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

1,260
1,0251,6952,3652010-03-31: 1,1602011-03-31: 1,1552012-03-31: 1,1952013-03-31: 1,1752014-03-31: 1,1902015-03-31: 1,2602016-03-31: 1,2302017-03-31: 2,2352018-03-31: 1,6052019-03-31: 1,6202020-03-31: 1,2302021-03-31: 1,2152022-03-31: 1,2952023-03-31: 1,2652024-03-31: 1,2652025-03-31: 1,260 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 1,155 to 2,235 · axis starts at 1,025

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

105
691001312010-03-31: 852011-03-31: 752012-03-31: 752013-03-31: 952014-03-31: 1002015-03-31: 1152016-03-31: 1152017-03-31: 1202018-03-31: 1252019-03-31: 1252020-03-31: 1202021-03-31: 1052022-03-31: 1052023-03-31: 1102024-03-31: 1002025-03-31: 105 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 75 to 125 · axis starts at 69

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: 102014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 102016-03-31: 152017-03-31: 102018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 102020-03-31: 52021-03-31: 102022-03-31: 102023-03-31: 102024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 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

13,830
11k14k18k2010-03-31: 12k2011-03-31: 11k2012-03-31: 12k2013-03-31: 12k2014-03-31: 12k2015-03-31: 13k2016-03-31: 14k2017-03-31: 17k2018-03-31: 14k2019-03-31: 15k2020-03-31: 14k2021-03-31: 14k2022-03-31: 14k2023-03-31: 14k2024-03-31: 14k2025-03-31: 14k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 11k to 17k · axis starts at 11k

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

7,358
2,3545,1247,8941998-12-31: 2,8901999-12-31: 3,0092000-12-31: 3,1992001-12-31: 3,3132002-12-31: 3,4702003-12-31: 3,6032004-12-31: 3,6432005-12-31: 3,8452006-12-31: 3,9032007-12-31: 4,0492008-12-31: 4,2412009-12-31: 4,0652010-12-31: 4,1342011-12-31: 4,2152012-12-31: 4,3672013-12-31: 4,6882014-12-31: 4,9632015-12-31: 5,1382016-12-31: 5,5162017-12-31: 5,9992018-12-31: 6,0702019-12-31: 6,0152020-12-31: 5,4592021-12-31: 5,9552022-12-31: 6,5922023-12-31: 7,358 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 2,890 to 7,358 · axis starts at 2,354

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Central Bedfordshire

Central Bedfordshire