The Datum Report

Local area

Milton Keynes

What we think is happening

The job market in Milton Keynes has been weakening.

deteriorating · strong confidence · formed 31 August 2026 · how we reached this

By subject

Every figure published for Milton Keynes. 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
8.1%
3.87.310.72020-03-31: 9.62020-06-30: 9.42020-09-30: 8.02020-12-31: 7.42021-03-31: 8.92021-06-30: 10.02021-09-30: 9.32021-12-31: 8.32022-03-31: 7.92022-06-30: 6.82022-09-30: 6.62022-12-31: 5.72023-03-31: 4.52023-06-30: 5.12023-09-30: 6.42023-12-31: 6.32024-03-31: 8.82024-06-30: 7.82024-09-30: 8.02024-12-31: 8.22025-03-31: 7.52025-06-30: 7.72025-09-30: 7.82025-12-31: 7.62026-03-31: 8.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 4.5 to 10.0 · axis starts at 3.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.9, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
78.1%
74.378.582.72020-03-31: 78.12020-06-30: 80.62020-09-30: 79.12020-12-31: 80.32021-03-31: 79.62021-06-30: 78.32021-09-30: 80.12021-12-31: 80.72022-03-31: 81.52022-06-30: 81.72022-09-30: 81.92022-12-31: 81.92023-03-31: 80.82023-06-30: 80.02023-09-30: 78.32023-12-31: 76.02024-03-31: 76.62024-06-30: 75.22024-09-30: 76.52024-12-31: 79.72025-03-31: 79.32025-06-30: 80.32025-09-30: 79.62025-12-31: 78.92026-03-31: 78.1 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 75.2 to 81.9 · axis starts at 74.3

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

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
5.4%
1.23.55.82020-03-31: 4.32020-06-30: 2.82020-09-30: 4.12020-12-31: 3.52021-03-31: 4.52021-06-30: 4.92021-09-30: 3.42021-12-31: 3.32022-03-31: 1.72022-06-30: 1.82022-09-30: 1.92022-12-31: 1.72023-03-31: 2.52023-06-30: 2.02023-09-30: 3.02023-12-31: 3.02024-03-31: 2.32024-06-30: 2.92024-09-30: 2.62024-12-31: 3.32025-03-31: 3.72025-06-30: 4.62025-09-30: 5.32025-12-31: 5.22026-03-31: 5.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 1.7 to 5.4 · axis starts at 1.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±1.8, basis not documented by the producer

17.4%
15.019.223.42020-03-31: 18.42020-06-30: 17.22020-09-30: 17.52020-12-31: 16.82021-03-31: 16.62021-06-30: 17.72021-09-30: 17.12021-12-31: 16.62022-03-31: 17.22022-06-30: 16.82022-09-30: 16.62022-12-31: 16.72023-03-31: 17.22023-06-30: 18.42023-09-30: 19.32023-12-31: 21.72024-03-31: 21.62024-06-30: 22.62024-09-30: 21.42024-12-31: 17.62025-03-31: 17.62025-06-30: 15.82025-09-30: 16.02025-12-31: 16.72026-03-31: 17.4 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.8 to 22.6 · axis starts at 15.0

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±2.7, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
7,970
3,2927,52012k2020-01-31: 4,1102020-02-29: 4,3202020-03-31: 4,4952020-04-30: 6,6752020-05-31: 10k2020-06-30: 10k2020-07-31: 11k2020-08-31: 11k2020-09-30: 11k2020-10-31: 10k2020-11-30: 10k2020-12-31: 9,9502021-01-31: 9,8902021-02-28: 11k2021-03-31: 11k2021-04-30: 11k2021-05-31: 10k2021-06-30: 9,5202021-07-31: 9,3302021-08-31: 8,9952021-09-30: 8,5252021-10-31: 8,1702021-11-30: 7,7102021-12-31: 7,3102022-01-31: 7,1502022-02-28: 7,1452022-03-31: 6,8702022-04-30: 6,6252022-05-31: 6,4952022-06-30: 6,3652022-07-31: 6,2102022-08-31: 6,1902022-09-30: 6,2802022-10-31: 6,2752022-11-30: 6,2102022-12-31: 6,1952023-01-31: 6,1502023-02-28: 6,3352023-03-31: 6,6802023-04-30: 6,8002023-05-31: 6,5552023-06-30: 6,5952023-07-31: 6,6302023-08-31: 6,6702023-09-30: 6,7002023-10-31: 6,7152023-11-30: 6,6802023-12-31: 6,7102024-01-31: 6,8102024-02-29: 7,1052024-03-31: 7,3252024-04-30: 7,4902024-05-31: 7,5402024-06-30: 7,6752024-07-31: 8,2002024-08-31: 8,3152024-09-30: 8,3902024-10-31: 8,4252024-11-30: 8,1702024-12-31: 7,9602025-01-31: 7,8802025-02-28: 8,2552025-03-31: 8,2852025-04-30: 8,1902025-05-31: 8,1502025-06-30: 8,1852025-07-31: 8,0652025-08-31: 7,9852025-09-30: 8,0552025-10-31: 8,0352025-11-30: 7,8802025-12-31: 7,6902026-01-31: 7,7502026-02-28: 8,0652026-03-31: 8,1052026-04-30: 8,0002026-05-31: 7,9602026-06-30: 7,9352026-07-31: 7,8002026-08-31: 7,970 2020-01 2026-08
80 monthly readings · 4,110 to 11k · axis starts at 3,292

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

4.1%
3.944.12026-01-31: 3.92026-02-28: 4.12026-03-31: 4.12026-04-30: 4.12026-05-31: 4.12026-06-30: 42026-07-31: 42026-08-31: 4.1 2026-01 2026-08
8 monthly readings · 3.9 to 4.1 · axis starts at 3.9

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.

30.2%
16.826.937.02020-03-31: 20.72020-06-30: 22.62020-09-30: 21.52020-12-31: 20.32021-03-31: 19.32021-06-30: 18.82021-09-30: 202021-12-31: 21.32022-03-31: 27.52022-06-30: 31.12022-09-30: 32.62022-12-31: 29.92023-03-31: 32.72023-06-30: 30.62023-09-30: 35.02023-12-31: 29.82024-03-31: 22.52024-06-30: 20.72024-09-30: 19.72024-12-31: 21.42025-03-31: 21.72025-06-30: 24.02025-09-30: 23.82025-12-31: 27.92026-03-31: 30.2 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 18.8 to 35.0 · axis starts at 16.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.7, basis not documented by the producer

17.9%
13.922.330.82020-03-31: 22.92020-06-30: 252020-09-30: 24.22020-12-31: 27.62021-03-31: 29.12021-06-30: 24.72021-09-30: 20.72021-12-31: 18.92022-03-31: 16.12022-06-30: 17.12022-09-30: 17.72022-12-31: 21.42023-03-31: 17.52023-06-30: 17.72023-09-30: 18.72023-12-31: 18.82024-03-31: 20.92024-06-30: 17.22024-09-30: 19.72024-12-31: 20.12025-03-31: 20.12025-06-30: 19.72025-09-30: 22.72025-12-31: 15.52026-03-31: 17.9 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.5 to 29.1 · axis starts at 13.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.4, basis not documented by the producer

13.5%
6.515.123.72020-03-31: 15.62020-06-30: 15.12020-09-30: 13.12020-12-31: 14.02021-03-31: 16.52021-06-30: 18.82021-09-30: 21.02021-12-31: 22.02022-03-31: 18.52022-06-30: 15.02022-09-30: 14.22022-12-31: 16.02023-03-31: 9.42023-06-30: 9.12023-09-30: 8.22023-12-31: 9.12024-03-31: 11.42024-06-30: 10.62024-09-30: 11.82024-12-31: 11.02025-03-31: 14.92025-06-30: 15.82025-09-30: 15.62025-12-31: 15.12026-03-31: 13.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 8.2 to 22.0 · axis starts at 6.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.7, basis not documented by the producer

26.5%
11.927.743.52020-03-31: 28.02020-06-30: 26.42020-09-30: 29.22020-12-31: 26.62021-03-31: 21.42021-06-30: 20.72021-09-30: 20.72021-12-31: 19.62022-03-31: 22.82022-06-30: 23.52022-09-30: 16.72022-12-31: 15.02023-03-31: 22.62023-06-30: 27.12023-09-30: 26.92023-12-31: 31.72024-03-31: 35.42024-06-30: 40.42024-09-30: 402024-12-31: 37.92025-03-31: 30.42025-06-30: 26.52025-09-30: 24.82025-12-31: 29.12026-03-31: 26.5 2020-03 2026-03
25 monthly readings · 15.0 to 40.4 · axis starts at 11.9

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±7.4, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 3
£25,064
9,46118k27k1997-12-31: 11k1998-12-31: 11k1999-12-31: 12k2000-12-31: 12k2001-12-31: 13k2002-12-31: 13k2003-12-31: 14k2004-12-31: 14k2005-12-31: 15k2006-12-31: 15k2007-12-31: 16k2008-12-31: 17k2009-12-31: 17k2010-12-31: 17k2011-12-31: 17k2012-12-31: 17k2013-12-31: 17k2014-12-31: 18k2015-12-31: 19k2016-12-31: 19k2017-12-31: 20k2018-12-31: 21k2019-12-31: 21k2020-12-31: 21k2021-12-31: 21k2022-12-31: 23k2023-12-31: 24k2024-12-31: 25k 1997-12 2024-12
28 annual readings · 11k to 25k · axis starts at 9,461

ONS, Gross disposable household income per head

Median pay
Jul 2026
£2,758
1,8222,3402,8582020-01-31: 1,9242020-02-29: 1,9372020-03-31: 1,9462020-04-30: 1,9222020-05-31: 1,9272020-06-30: 1,9362020-07-31: 1,9752020-08-31: 2,0082020-09-30: 2,0182020-10-31: 2,0412020-11-30: 2,0492020-12-31: 2,0932021-01-31: 2,0552021-02-28: 2,0522021-03-31: 2,0832021-04-30: 2,1002021-05-31: 2,0952021-06-30: 2,1032021-07-31: 2,1142021-08-31: 2,1142021-09-30: 2,1322021-10-31: 2,1652021-11-30: 2,1952021-12-31: 2,2412022-01-31: 2,1962022-02-28: 2,1892022-03-31: 2,2312022-04-30: 2,2202022-05-31: 2,2322022-06-30: 2,2382022-07-31: 2,2412022-08-31: 2,2522022-09-30: 2,2862022-10-31: 2,3072022-11-30: 2,3682022-12-31: 2,3922023-01-31: 2,3242023-02-28: 2,3152023-03-31: 2,3562023-04-30: 2,3682023-05-31: 2,3932023-06-30: 2,4202023-07-31: 2,3832023-08-31: 2,3862023-09-30: 2,3882023-10-31: 2,4042023-11-30: 2,4642023-12-31: 2,5032024-01-31: 2,4352024-02-29: 2,4262024-03-31: 2,4642024-04-30: 2,4772024-05-31: 2,5012024-06-30: 2,4912024-07-31: 2,5072024-08-31: 2,5122024-09-30: 2,5292024-10-31: 2,5662024-11-30: 2,5922024-12-31: 2,5962025-01-31: 2,5592025-02-28: 2,5502025-03-31: 2,5842025-04-30: 2,6272025-05-31: 2,6302025-06-30: 2,6222025-07-31: 2,6352025-08-31: 2,6512025-09-30: 2,6562025-10-31: 2,6642025-11-30: 2,6602025-12-31: 2,7062026-01-31: 2,6652026-02-28: 2,6762026-03-31: 2,7152026-04-30: 2,7442026-05-31: 2,7442026-06-30: 2,7522026-07-31: 2,758 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 1,922 to 2,758 · axis starts at 1,822

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.

146,365
132k141k150k2020-01-31: 138k2020-02-29: 137k2020-03-31: 137k2020-04-30: 135k2020-05-31: 135k2020-06-30: 135k2020-07-31: 135k2020-08-31: 135k2020-09-30: 134k2020-10-31: 135k2020-11-30: 136k2020-12-31: 136k2021-01-31: 134k2021-02-28: 133k2021-03-31: 133k2021-04-30: 134k2021-05-31: 135k2021-06-30: 137k2021-07-31: 138k2021-08-31: 138k2021-09-30: 139k2021-10-31: 139k2021-11-30: 140k2021-12-31: 141k2022-01-31: 139k2022-02-28: 140k2022-03-31: 140k2022-04-30: 140k2022-05-31: 141k2022-06-30: 142k2022-07-31: 143k2022-08-31: 143k2022-09-30: 144k2022-10-31: 144k2022-11-30: 145k2022-12-31: 145k2023-01-31: 144k2023-02-28: 144k2023-03-31: 144k2023-04-30: 144k2023-05-31: 145k2023-06-30: 146k2023-07-31: 146k2023-08-31: 146k2023-09-30: 146k2023-10-31: 147k2023-11-30: 148k2023-12-31: 148k2024-01-31: 147k2024-02-29: 146k2024-03-31: 146k2024-04-30: 145k2024-05-31: 145k2024-06-30: 146k2024-07-31: 147k2024-08-31: 146k2024-09-30: 146k2024-10-31: 147k2024-11-30: 148k2024-12-31: 148k2025-01-31: 146k2025-02-28: 145k2025-03-31: 145k2025-04-30: 146k2025-05-31: 146k2025-06-30: 146k2025-07-31: 147k2025-08-31: 146k2025-09-30: 146k2025-10-31: 147k2025-11-30: 147k2025-12-31: 147k2026-01-31: 146k2026-02-28: 145k2026-03-31: 145k2026-04-30: 145k2026-05-31: 146k2026-06-30: 146k2026-07-31: 146k 2020-01 2026-07
79 monthly readings · 133k to 148k · axis starts at 132k

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
12,535
8,13011k15k2010-03-31: 8,8252011-03-31: 8,7702012-03-31: 9,1352013-03-31: 9,4452014-03-31: 9,9452015-03-31: 11k2016-03-31: 12k2017-03-31: 13k2018-03-31: 12k2019-03-31: 14k2020-03-31: 13k2021-03-31: 13k2022-03-31: 13k2023-03-31: 12k2024-03-31: 12k2025-03-31: 13k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 8,770 to 14k · axis starts at 8,130

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

10,015
6,1709,24512k2010-03-31: 6,7702011-03-31: 6,7652012-03-31: 7,0752013-03-31: 7,3502014-03-31: 7,7702015-03-31: 8,6552016-03-31: 9,5602017-03-31: 10k2018-03-31: 10k2019-03-31: 12k2020-03-31: 10k2021-03-31: 10k2022-03-31: 10k2023-03-31: 9,7752024-03-31: 9,8552025-03-31: 10k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 6,765 to 12k · axis starts at 6,170

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

610
4305857402010-03-31: 4702011-03-31: 4602012-03-31: 4802013-03-31: 4902014-03-31: 5352015-03-31: 5702016-03-31: 5752017-03-31: 5752018-03-31: 5702019-03-31: 6052020-03-31: 6402021-03-31: 6152022-03-31: 7102023-03-31: 6402024-03-31: 6302025-03-31: 610 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 460 to 710 · axis starts at 430

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

95
7287.51032010-03-31: 802011-03-31: 802012-03-31: 802013-03-31: 752014-03-31: 802015-03-31: 802016-03-31: 902017-03-31: 952018-03-31: 902019-03-31: 852020-03-31: 902021-03-31: 902022-03-31: 952023-03-31: 952024-03-31: 1002025-03-31: 95 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 75 to 100 · axis starts at 72

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

25
18.82531.22010-03-31: 252011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 252013-03-31: 252014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 202017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 202019-03-31: 252020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 252022-03-31: 302023-03-31: 252024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 25 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 30 · axis starts at 18.8

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

405
2873524182010-03-31: 3252011-03-31: 3302012-03-31: 3002013-03-31: 3402014-03-31: 3452015-03-31: 3402016-03-31: 3552017-03-31: 3702018-03-31: 3652019-03-31: 3552020-03-31: 3752021-03-31: 3602022-03-31: 3752023-03-31: 3902024-03-31: 3902025-03-31: 405 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 300 to 405 · axis starts at 287

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

30
17.63042.42010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 252012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 252015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 252017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 302020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 302022-03-31: 302023-03-31: 402024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 30 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 20 to 40 · axis starts at 17.6

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

1,170
9211,0721,2242010-03-31: 1,0002011-03-31: 9502012-03-31: 1,0252013-03-31: 1,0052014-03-31: 1,0252015-03-31: 1,1152016-03-31: 1,0752017-03-31: 1,0702018-03-31: 1,1002019-03-31: 1,1202020-03-31: 1,0852021-03-31: 1,1652022-03-31: 1,1552023-03-31: 1,1752024-03-31: 1,1952025-03-31: 1,170 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 950 to 1,195 · axis starts at 921

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

160
1041351662010-03-31: 1102011-03-31: 1202012-03-31: 1202013-03-31: 1152014-03-31: 1202015-03-31: 1152016-03-31: 1302017-03-31: 1352018-03-31: 1452019-03-31: 1402020-03-31: 1402021-03-31: 1452022-03-31: 1402023-03-31: 1552024-03-31: 1602025-03-31: 160 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 110 to 160 · axis starts at 104

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

25
13.82026.22010-03-31: 202011-03-31: 152012-03-31: 202013-03-31: 202014-03-31: 202015-03-31: 252016-03-31: 252017-03-31: 252018-03-31: 252019-03-31: 202020-03-31: 252021-03-31: 202022-03-31: 202023-03-31: 202024-03-31: 252025-03-31: 25 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 15 to 25 · axis starts at 13.8

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

14,650
10k14k17k2010-03-31: 11k2011-03-31: 11k2012-03-31: 11k2013-03-31: 12k2014-03-31: 12k2015-03-31: 13k2016-03-31: 14k2017-03-31: 15k2018-03-31: 15k2019-03-31: 16k2020-03-31: 15k2021-03-31: 15k2022-03-31: 15k2023-03-31: 14k2024-03-31: 15k2025-03-31: 15k 2010-03 2025-03
16 annual readings · 11k to 16k · axis starts at 10k

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

16,763
3,76111k18k1998-12-31: 5,1541999-12-31: 5,3452000-12-31: 5,6972001-12-31: 6,0772002-12-31: 6,5372003-12-31: 7,1082004-12-31: 7,0892005-12-31: 7,4652006-12-31: 7,8522007-12-31: 8,2782008-12-31: 8,5772009-12-31: 8,2672010-12-31: 8,6722011-12-31: 9,0092012-12-31: 9,2422013-12-31: 9,7932014-12-31: 11k2015-12-31: 12k2016-12-31: 12k2017-12-31: 13k2018-12-31: 14k2019-12-31: 14k2020-12-31: 13k2021-12-31: 14k2022-12-31: 16k2023-12-31: 17k 1998-12 2023-12
26 annual readings · 5,154 to 17k · axis starts at 3,761

ONS, Gross value added, published 16 October 2025

Local authorities in Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes