The Datum Report

Local area

Luton

What we think is happening

The job market in Luton has been weakening.

deteriorating · strong 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
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 7.4% +1.2 in the top 10% of 169
Employment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 66.1% -3.3 in the bottom 2% of 171
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 28.6% +2.6 in the top 4% of 171

Moving with the rest of the country

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

By subject

Every figure published for Luton. 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
7.0%
6.49.212.12020-03-31: 9.42020-06-30: 9.42020-09-30: 9.22020-12-31: 8.62021-03-31: 9.02021-06-30: 9.02021-09-30: 9.62021-12-31: 9.52022-03-31: 7.72022-06-30: 7.22022-09-30: 6.92022-12-31: 10.52023-03-31: 8.52023-06-30: 10.82023-09-30: 9.42023-12-31: 10.02024-03-31: 9.52024-06-30: 8.42024-09-30: 8.92024-12-31: 10.02025-03-31: 11.52025-06-30: 8.62025-09-30: 7.82025-12-31: 82026-03-31: 7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 6.9 to 11.5 · axis starts at 6.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.4, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
66.1%
62.668.073.32020-03-31: 70.62020-06-30: 71.92020-09-30: 70.32020-12-31: 70.52021-03-31: 70.02021-06-30: 68.22021-09-30: 68.92021-12-31: 69.92022-03-31: 70.02022-06-30: 68.62022-09-30: 69.72022-12-31: 67.52023-03-31: 69.42023-06-30: 72.12023-09-30: 72.32023-12-31: 70.52024-03-31: 68.72024-06-30: 65.82024-09-30: 64.32024-12-31: 63.62025-03-31: 66.62025-06-30: 66.32025-09-30: 67.02025-12-31: 69.42026-03-31: 66.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 63.6 to 72.3 · axis starts at 62.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±4.4, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
7.4%
2.85.99.02020-03-31: 4.52020-06-30: 3.62020-09-30: 4.72020-12-31: 5.82021-03-31: 7.42021-06-30: 8.02021-09-30: 8.42021-12-31: 6.82022-03-31: 5.72022-06-30: 5.72022-09-30: 3.42022-12-31: 6.72023-03-31: 4.72023-06-30: 4.82023-09-30: 5.52023-12-31: 5.42024-03-31: 5.82024-06-30: 7.62024-09-30: 7.72024-12-31: 7.42025-03-31: 7.12025-06-30: 3.62025-09-30: 5.02025-12-31: 6.22026-03-31: 7.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 3.4 to 8.4 · axis starts at 2.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±2.9, basis not documented by the producer

28.6%
22.527.432.22020-03-31: 26.12020-06-30: 25.42020-09-30: 26.32020-12-31: 25.22021-03-31: 24.42021-06-30: 25.92021-09-30: 24.82021-12-31: 25.02022-03-31: 25.72022-06-30: 27.32022-09-30: 27.92022-12-31: 27.62023-03-31: 27.22023-06-30: 24.32023-09-30: 23.42023-12-31: 25.42024-03-31: 27.12024-06-30: 28.92024-09-30: 30.42024-12-31: 31.32025-03-31: 28.32025-06-30: 31.22025-09-30: 29.42025-12-31: 262026-03-31: 28.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 23.4 to 31.3 · axis starts at 22.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.2, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
10,285
3,3588,35213k2020-01-31: 4,3252020-02-29: 4,4552020-03-31: 4,5152020-04-30: 6,9252020-05-31: 11k2020-06-30: 11k2020-07-31: 11k2020-08-31: 12k2020-09-30: 11k2020-10-31: 11k2020-11-30: 11k2020-12-31: 11k2021-01-31: 11k2021-02-28: 12k2021-03-31: 12k2021-04-30: 12k2021-05-31: 12k2021-06-30: 11k2021-07-31: 11k2021-08-31: 11k2021-09-30: 10k2021-10-31: 9,7802021-11-30: 9,5152021-12-31: 9,2552022-01-31: 9,1452022-02-28: 9,0602022-03-31: 8,8252022-04-30: 8,4152022-05-31: 8,2202022-06-30: 7,9252022-07-31: 7,7102022-08-31: 7,5902022-09-30: 7,5152022-10-31: 7,2702022-11-30: 7,3502022-12-31: 7,4202023-01-31: 7,3702023-02-28: 7,5352023-03-31: 7,8702023-04-30: 8,2052023-05-31: 8,1452023-06-30: 8,1502023-07-31: 8,2752023-08-31: 8,2802023-09-30: 8,4002023-10-31: 8,3402023-11-30: 8,3152023-12-31: 8,3552024-01-31: 8,3852024-02-29: 8,5802024-03-31: 8,6952024-04-30: 8,7002024-05-31: 8,8252024-06-30: 9,4052024-07-31: 11k2024-08-31: 11k2024-09-30: 11k2024-10-31: 11k2024-11-30: 11k2024-12-31: 11k2025-01-31: 11k2025-02-28: 11k2025-03-31: 11k2025-04-30: 11k2025-05-31: 11k2025-06-30: 11k2025-07-31: 11k2025-08-31: 11k2025-09-30: 11k2025-10-31: 10k2025-11-30: 10k2025-12-31: 10k2026-01-31: 9,8952026-02-28: 10k2026-03-31: 10k2026-04-30: 10k2026-05-31: 10k2026-06-30: 10k2026-07-31: 10k2026-08-31: 10k 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 4,325 to 12k · axis starts at 3,358

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

6.6%
6.36.46.62026-01-31: 6.32026-02-28: 6.42026-03-31: 6.52026-04-30: 6.42026-05-31: 6.52026-06-30: 6.52026-07-31: 6.42026-08-31: 6.6 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 6.3 to 6.6 · axis starts at 6.3

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.

28.9%
14.724.534.32020-03-31: 17.52020-06-30: 16.62020-09-30: 18.22020-12-31: 19.82021-03-31: 21.92021-06-30: 21.12021-09-30: 23.32021-12-31: 23.12022-03-31: 25.52022-06-30: 32.42022-09-30: 29.92022-12-31: 16.72023-03-31: 19.62023-06-30: 17.52023-09-30: 19.92023-12-31: 25.22024-03-31: 28.92024-06-30: 27.42024-09-30: 27.12024-12-31: 27.22025-03-31: 29.02025-06-30: 22.72025-09-30: 27.52025-12-31: 27.82026-03-31: 28.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 16.6 to 32.4 · axis starts at 14.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.0, basis not documented by the producer

30.5%
16.929.441.92020-03-31: 38.92020-06-30: 38.22020-09-30: 37.82020-12-31: 35.32021-03-31: 33.82021-06-30: 32.12021-09-30: 31.32021-12-31: 34.22022-03-31: 33.82022-06-30: 36.02022-09-30: 34.72022-12-31: 29.02023-03-31: 39.52023-06-30: 37.32023-09-30: 37.02023-12-31: 31.22024-03-31: 28.12024-06-30: 25.22024-09-30: 21.62024-12-31: 202025-03-31: 19.42025-06-30: 20.32025-09-30: 31.12025-12-31: 33.42026-03-31: 30.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 19.4 to 39.5 · axis starts at 16.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±8.2, basis not documented by the producer

5.6%
1.88.214.72020-03-31: 3.02020-06-30: 3.92020-09-30: 3.82020-12-31: 5.42021-03-31: 7.92021-06-30: 6.62021-09-30: 7.22021-12-31: 11.12022-03-31: 9.32022-06-30: 8.82022-09-30: 9.42022-12-31: 8.72023-03-31: 7.12023-06-30: 7.32023-09-30: 8.42023-12-31: 13.42024-03-31: 8.02024-06-30: 13.22024-09-30: 11.52024-12-31: 8.12025-03-31: 6.52025-06-30: 5.42025-09-30: 3.12025-12-31: 52026-03-31: 5.6 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 3.0 to 13.4 · axis starts at 1.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±4.1, basis not documented by the producer

24.7%
12.525.238.02020-03-31: 33.22020-06-30: 32.92020-09-30: 32.62020-12-31: 28.52021-03-31: 24.52021-06-30: 29.32021-09-30: 26.72021-12-31: 23.42022-03-31: 23.12022-06-30: 16.32022-09-30: 14.92022-12-31: 33.92023-03-31: 21.52023-06-30: 25.92023-09-30: 26.82023-12-31: 27.12024-03-31: 27.32024-06-30: 27.62024-09-30: 31.02024-12-31: 35.52025-03-31: 34.52025-06-30: 35.12025-09-30: 25.42025-12-31: 24.22026-03-31: 24.7 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 14.9 to 35.5 · axis starts at 12.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.6, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£19,612
7,60814k21k1997-12-31: 9,2391998-12-31: 8,8941999-12-31: 9,4032000-12-31: 9,9082001-12-31: 11k2002-12-31: 11k2003-12-31: 11k2004-12-31: 12k2005-12-31: 12k2006-12-31: 12k2007-12-31: 12k2008-12-31: 13k2009-12-31: 13k2010-12-31: 13k2011-12-31: 13k2012-12-31: 13k2013-12-31: 13k2014-12-31: 14k2015-12-31: 14k2016-12-31: 15k2017-12-31: 16k2018-12-31: 16k2019-12-31: 17k2020-12-31: 17k2021-12-31: 17k2022-12-31: 18k2023-12-31: 19k2024-12-31: 20k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 8,894 to 20k · axis starts at 7,608

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,516
1,6482,1282,6092020-01-31: 1,7632020-02-29: 1,7632020-03-31: 1,7692020-04-30: 1,7412020-05-31: 1,7592020-06-30: 1,7662020-07-31: 1,7902020-08-31: 1,8102020-09-30: 1,8262020-10-31: 1,8262020-11-30: 1,8462020-12-31: 1,8672021-01-31: 1,8332021-02-28: 1,8202021-03-31: 1,8472021-04-30: 1,8582021-05-31: 1,8542021-06-30: 1,8702021-07-31: 1,8822021-08-31: 1,8852021-09-30: 1,9052021-10-31: 1,9082021-11-30: 1,9252021-12-31: 1,9592022-01-31: 1,9272022-02-28: 1,9082022-03-31: 1,9462022-04-30: 1,9492022-05-31: 1,9712022-06-30: 1,9862022-07-31: 1,9902022-08-31: 2,0122022-09-30: 2,0422022-10-31: 2,0422022-11-30: 2,0792022-12-31: 2,0652023-01-31: 2,0292023-02-28: 2,0292023-03-31: 2,0542023-04-30: 2,0882023-05-31: 2,1142023-06-30: 2,1442023-07-31: 2,1192023-08-31: 2,1282023-09-30: 2,1302023-10-31: 2,1372023-11-30: 2,1962023-12-31: 2,1952024-01-31: 2,1592024-02-29: 2,1512024-03-31: 2,1862024-04-30: 2,2232024-05-31: 2,2392024-06-30: 2,2522024-07-31: 2,2612024-08-31: 2,2742024-09-30: 2,2832024-10-31: 2,3202024-11-30: 2,3492024-12-31: 2,3432025-01-31: 2,3152025-02-28: 2,2942025-03-31: 2,3132025-04-30: 2,3652025-05-31: 2,3812025-06-30: 2,3702025-07-31: 2,3852025-08-31: 2,4212025-09-30: 2,4152025-10-31: 2,4122025-11-30: 2,4152025-12-31: 2,4452026-01-31: 2,4212026-02-28: 2,4072026-03-31: 2,4242026-04-30: 2,4792026-05-31: 2,4982026-06-30: 2,5072026-07-31: 2,516 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,741 to 2,516 · axis starts at 1,648

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.

108,463
91k102k112k2020-01-31: 96k2020-02-29: 96k2020-03-31: 95k2020-04-30: 94k2020-05-31: 93k2020-06-30: 94k2020-07-31: 94k2020-08-31: 94k2020-09-30: 94k2020-10-31: 94k2020-11-30: 95k2020-12-31: 95k2021-01-31: 94k2021-02-28: 93k2021-03-31: 93k2021-04-30: 94k2021-05-31: 95k2021-06-30: 95k2021-07-31: 96k2021-08-31: 96k2021-09-30: 96k2021-10-31: 97k2021-11-30: 98k2021-12-31: 98k2022-01-31: 97k2022-02-28: 97k2022-03-31: 98k2022-04-30: 98k2022-05-31: 99k2022-06-30: 99k2022-07-31: 100k2022-08-31: 100k2022-09-30: 101k2022-10-31: 102k2022-11-30: 104k2022-12-31: 104k2023-01-31: 102k2023-02-28: 102k2023-03-31: 103k2023-04-30: 103k2023-05-31: 104k2023-06-30: 105k2023-07-31: 105k2023-08-31: 105k2023-09-30: 106k2023-10-31: 107k2023-11-30: 108k2023-12-31: 108k2024-01-31: 107k2024-02-29: 106k2024-03-31: 106k2024-04-30: 107k2024-05-31: 107k2024-06-30: 108k2024-07-31: 108k2024-08-31: 108k2024-09-30: 108k2024-10-31: 109k2024-11-30: 110k2024-12-31: 110k2025-01-31: 108k2025-02-28: 108k2025-03-31: 108k2025-04-30: 107k2025-05-31: 108k2025-06-30: 108k2025-07-31: 108k2025-08-31: 108k2025-09-30: 108k2025-10-31: 109k2025-11-30: 110k2025-12-31: 110k2026-01-31: 109k2026-02-28: 108k2026-03-31: 108k2026-04-30: 108k2026-05-31: 108k2026-06-30: 108k2026-07-31: 108k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 93k to 110k · axis starts at 91k

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
7,955
3,6966,99810k2010-03-31: 4,4102011-03-31: 4,3352012-03-31: 4,5802013-03-31: 4,6752014-03-31: 5,0002015-03-31: 5,6752016-03-31: 6,5802017-03-31: 9,6602018-03-31: 6,8652019-03-31: 7,1702020-03-31: 7,4102021-03-31: 7,7002022-03-31: 8,1802023-03-31: 7,8602024-03-31: 7,9002025-03-31: 7,955 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 4,335 to 9,660 · axis starts at 3,696

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

6,580
2,6675,7308,7932010-03-31: 3,3052011-03-31: 3,2602012-03-31: 3,4352013-03-31: 3,5002014-03-31: 3,7702015-03-31: 4,4002016-03-31: 5,3202017-03-31: 8,2002018-03-31: 5,6152019-03-31: 5,9402020-03-31: 6,1752021-03-31: 6,4402022-03-31: 6,8352023-03-31: 6,5002024-03-31: 6,5452025-03-31: 6,580 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 3,260 to 8,200 · axis starts at 2,667

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

345
2643203762010-03-31: 2952011-03-31: 2752012-03-31: 3052013-03-31: 3002014-03-31: 3152015-03-31: 3302016-03-31: 3202017-03-31: 3652018-03-31: 3202019-03-31: 3002020-03-31: 3002021-03-31: 2902022-03-31: 3302023-03-31: 3352024-03-31: 3302025-03-31: 345 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 275 to 365 · axis starts at 264

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

30
23.232.541.82010-03-31: 302011-03-31: 302012-03-31: 352013-03-31: 402014-03-31: 402015-03-31: 402016-03-31: 402017-03-31: 302018-03-31: 302019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 302021-03-31: 352022-03-31: 252023-03-31: 302024-03-31: 302025-03-31: 30 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 25 to 40 · axis starts at 23.2

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

15
8.81521.22010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 202012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 152015-03-31: 152016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 152018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 152020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 152022-03-31: 152023-03-31: 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

185
1391702012010-03-31: 1502011-03-31: 1502012-03-31: 1452013-03-31: 1752014-03-31: 1802015-03-31: 1802016-03-31: 1752017-03-31: 1752018-03-31: 1552019-03-31: 1752020-03-31: 1752021-03-31: 1752022-03-31: 1902023-03-31: 1952024-03-31: 1902025-03-31: 185 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 145 to 195 · axis starts at 139

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

10
8.81521.22010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 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: 102023-03-31: 152024-03-31: 102025-03-31: 10 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

710
4926628332010-03-31: 5302011-03-31: 5252012-03-31: 5652013-03-31: 5752014-03-31: 6002015-03-31: 6302016-03-31: 6402017-03-31: 8002018-03-31: 6502019-03-31: 6302020-03-31: 6352021-03-31: 6702022-03-31: 7102023-03-31: 6952024-03-31: 7102025-03-31: 710 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 525 to 800 · axis starts at 492

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

65
48.257.566.82010-03-31: 552011-03-31: 502012-03-31: 502013-03-31: 502014-03-31: 602015-03-31: 602016-03-31: 502017-03-31: 502018-03-31: 602019-03-31: 602020-03-31: 602021-03-31: 602022-03-31: 602023-03-31: 652024-03-31: 602025-03-31: 65 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 50 to 65 · axis starts at 48.2

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

10
4.47.510.62010-03-31: 102011-03-31: 102012-03-31: 102013-03-31: 52014-03-31: 52015-03-31: 52016-03-31: 102017-03-31: 52018-03-31: 102019-03-31: 52020-03-31: 102021-03-31: 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

9,055
4,9268,17811k2010-03-31: 5,6352011-03-31: 5,5552012-03-31: 5,7652013-03-31: 5,8552014-03-31: 6,1402015-03-31: 6,8252016-03-31: 7,7152017-03-31: 11k2018-03-31: 8,0152019-03-31: 8,3452020-03-31: 8,5802021-03-31: 8,8552022-03-31: 9,3352023-03-31: 8,9952024-03-31: 9,0302025-03-31: 9,055 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 5,555 to 11k · axis starts at 4,926

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

6,639
2,3714,7347,0961998-12-31: 2,8281999-12-31: 2,9342000-12-31: 3,1962001-12-31: 3,3622002-12-31: 3,4502003-12-31: 3,6102004-12-31: 3,6422005-12-31: 3,7892006-12-31: 3,9112007-12-31: 4,1342008-12-31: 4,3632009-12-31: 4,0712010-12-31: 4,1032011-12-31: 4,0962012-12-31: 4,2502013-12-31: 4,7042014-12-31: 5,2292015-12-31: 5,4462016-12-31: 5,5322017-12-31: 5,8302018-12-31: 5,9042019-12-31: 6,1412020-12-31: 5,2582021-12-31: 5,5342022-12-31: 6,1502023-12-31: 6,639 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 2,828 to 6,639 · axis starts at 2,371

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Luton

Luton