The Datum Report

Parliamentary constituency

Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard

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 12.9% +3.2 in the top 4% of 629
Employment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 84.6% +5.5 in the top 3% of 632
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 12.7% -3.4 in the bottom 10% of 632
% of economically inactive student Apr 2025-Mar 2026 25.7% -12 in the bottom 3% of 555
Unemployment rate - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 3.1% -2.5 in the bottom 3% of 478

By subject

Every figure published for Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. 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
12.9%
3.68.813.92021-09-30: 4.82021-12-31: 4.82022-03-31: 6.32022-06-30: 4.62022-09-30: 7.12022-12-31: 62023-03-31: 6.82023-06-30: 7.22023-09-30: 82023-12-31: 7.62024-03-31: 6.32024-06-30: 8.22024-09-30: 7.92024-12-31: 8.42025-03-31: 6.62025-06-30: 5.12025-09-30: 9.42025-12-31: 9.72026-03-31: 12.9 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 4.6 to 12.9 · axis starts at 3.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±5.9, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
84.6%
71.679.286.82021-09-30: 812021-12-31: 82.32022-03-31: 81.42022-06-30: 82.52022-09-30: 81.52022-12-31: 80.92023-03-31: 79.72023-06-30: 80.72023-09-30: 842023-12-31: 85.32024-03-31: 842024-06-30: 82.82024-09-30: 79.12024-12-31: 79.62025-03-31: 782025-06-30: 76.32025-09-30: 73.12025-12-31: 79.12026-03-31: 84.6 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 73.1 to 85.3 · axis starts at 71.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±6.4, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
3.1%
2.74.35.92022-09-30: 32022-12-31: 3.82023-03-31: 5.32023-06-30: 5.42023-09-30: 3.52024-03-31: 32024-12-31: 52025-03-31: 4.42025-06-30: 4.52025-09-30: 5.12025-12-31: 5.62026-03-31: 3.1 2022-09 2026-03
12 monthly readings · 3 to 5.6 · axis starts at 2.7

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
7 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

12.7%
11.517.824.12021-09-30: 17.32021-12-31: 15.72022-03-31: 16.82022-06-30: 15.62022-09-30: 162022-12-31: 15.92023-03-31: 15.82023-06-30: 14.72023-09-30: 132023-12-31: 13.32024-03-31: 13.42024-06-30: 14.42024-09-30: 17.82024-12-31: 16.22025-03-31: 18.42025-06-30: 20.12025-09-30: 22.92025-12-31: 16.12026-03-31: 12.7 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 12.7 to 22.9 · axis starts at 11.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.9, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
2,420
1,5412,0282,5142021-09-30: 2,4052021-10-31: 2,3402021-11-30: 2,2652021-12-31: 2,1552022-01-31: 2,0702022-02-28: 2,0652022-03-31: 1,9902022-04-30: 1,9202022-05-31: 1,8402022-06-30: 1,7552022-07-31: 1,7152022-08-31: 1,7452022-09-30: 1,7252022-10-31: 1,7052022-11-30: 1,6652022-12-31: 1,6352023-01-31: 1,7052023-02-28: 1,7352023-03-31: 1,7702023-04-30: 1,8052023-05-31: 1,7652023-06-30: 1,7802023-07-31: 1,7502023-08-31: 1,7602023-09-30: 1,8002023-10-31: 1,7752023-11-30: 1,8102023-12-31: 1,8702024-01-31: 1,8752024-02-29: 1,9052024-03-31: 1,9102024-04-30: 1,8852024-05-31: 1,8852024-06-30: 1,9652024-07-31: 2,1302024-08-31: 2,1802024-09-30: 2,2252024-10-31: 2,2402024-11-30: 2,2302024-12-31: 2,2302025-01-31: 2,3002025-02-28: 2,3552025-03-31: 2,3552025-04-30: 2,3002025-05-31: 2,2752025-06-30: 2,3302025-07-31: 2,2752025-08-31: 2,2952025-09-30: 2,3152025-10-31: 2,3152025-11-30: 2,3152025-12-31: 2,2852026-01-31: 2,3052026-02-28: 2,3652026-03-31: 2,3452026-04-30: 2,3102026-05-31: 2,3502026-06-30: 2,3802026-07-31: 2,3402026-08-31: 2,420 2021-09 2026-08
60 monthly readings · 1,635 to 2,420 · axis starts at 1,541

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

3.3%
2.22.93.62021-09-30: 3.52021-10-31: 3.42021-11-30: 3.32021-12-31: 3.22022-01-31: 32022-02-28: 32022-03-31: 2.92022-04-30: 2.82022-05-31: 2.62022-06-30: 2.52022-07-31: 2.52022-08-31: 2.52022-09-30: 2.52022-10-31: 2.42022-11-30: 2.42022-12-31: 2.32023-01-31: 2.42023-02-28: 2.42023-03-31: 2.42023-04-30: 2.52023-05-31: 2.42023-06-30: 2.52023-07-31: 2.42023-08-31: 2.42023-09-30: 2.52023-10-31: 2.52023-11-30: 2.52023-12-31: 2.62024-01-31: 2.52024-02-29: 2.62024-03-31: 2.62024-04-30: 2.52024-05-31: 2.52024-06-30: 2.62024-07-31: 2.92024-08-31: 2.92024-09-30: 32024-10-31: 32024-11-30: 32024-12-31: 32025-01-31: 3.12025-02-28: 3.22025-03-31: 3.22025-04-30: 3.12025-05-31: 3.12025-06-30: 3.12025-07-31: 3.12025-08-31: 3.12025-09-30: 3.12025-10-31: 3.12025-11-30: 3.12025-12-31: 3.12026-01-31: 3.12026-02-28: 3.22026-03-31: 3.22026-04-30: 3.12026-05-31: 3.22026-06-30: 3.22026-07-31: 3.12026-08-31: 3.3 2021-09 2026-08
60 monthly readings · 2.3 to 3.5 · axis starts at 2.2

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

% 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)
19 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

26.1%
12.340.568.82021-09-30: 26.32021-12-31: 31.42022-03-31: 30.62022-06-30: 44.12022-09-30: 41.22022-12-31: 47.22023-03-31: 41.42023-06-30: 27.82023-09-30: 40.42023-12-31: 38.32024-03-31: 52.12024-06-30: 63.32024-09-30: 49.52024-12-31: 32.12025-03-31: 25.52025-06-30: 17.82025-09-30: 25.32025-12-31: 242026-03-31: 26.1 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 17.8 to 63.3 · axis starts at 12.3

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

19.6%
8.818.227.72021-09-30: 21.82021-12-31: 25.92022-03-31: 20.42022-06-30: 192022-09-30: 132022-12-31: 14.12023-03-31: 25.32023-06-30: 24.52023-09-30: 24.82023-12-31: 21.42025-09-30: 10.62025-12-31: 17.92026-03-31: 19.6 2021-09 2026-03
13 monthly readings · 10.6 to 25.9 · axis starts at 8.8

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
6 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

21.6%
6.414.823.22021-09-30: 82021-12-31: 8.32022-09-30: 8.72022-12-31: 9.82023-03-31: 9.32024-09-30: 16.12024-12-31: 17.32025-03-31: 162025-06-30: 9.92025-09-30: 202025-12-31: 162026-03-31: 21.6 2021-09 2026-03
12 monthly readings · 8 to 21.6 · axis starts at 6.4

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
7 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

25.7%
14.527.139.62021-09-30: 31.22021-12-31: 27.72022-03-31: 26.32023-06-30: 21.92023-09-30: 22.32023-12-31: 19.32024-03-31: 27.82024-06-30: 16.92024-09-30: 25.82024-12-31: 282025-03-31: 33.22025-06-30: 282025-09-30: 192025-12-31: 37.22026-03-31: 25.7 2021-09 2026-03
15 monthly readings · 16.9 to 37.2 · axis starts at 14.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
4 earlier periods withheld by the producer and absent from the chart.

Pay 2
9.919.228.510th10th · 2023-04-30: £11.7410th · 2024-04-30: £12.3810th · 2025-04-30: £13.2125th25th · 2023-04-30: £14.1525th · 2024-04-30: £14.7625th · 2025-04-30: £16.10MedianMedian · 2023-04-30: £19.07Median · 2024-04-30: £19.66Median · 2025-04-30: £20.6375th75th · 2023-04-30: £24.8075th · 2024-04-30: £26.4375th · 2025-04-30: £26.70 2023-04 2025-04
3 periods · 10th, 25th, Median, 75th · axis starts at 9.9
10th25thMedian75th90th
£13.21£16.10£20.63£26.70—

ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings - resident analysis, published 3 November 2025
coefficient of variation 3.3%

9.317.525.810th10th · 2023-04-30: £10.8810th · 2024-04-30: £11.9710th · 2025-04-30: £12.5025th25th · 2023-04-30: £12.3825th · 2024-04-30: £13.2525th · 2025-04-30: £14.21MedianMedian · 2023-04-30: £16.03Median · 2024-04-30: £16.02Median · 2025-04-30: £17.7475th75th · 2023-04-30: £22.0475th · 2024-04-30: £22.1475th · 2025-04-30: £24.19 2023-04 2025-04
3 periods · 10th, 25th, Median, 75th · axis starts at 9.3
10th25thMedian75th90th
£12.50£14.21£17.74£24.19—

ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings - workplace analysis, published 3 November 2025
coefficient of variation 1.4%

Business 11
Businesses
2025
4,145

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

3,330

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

205

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

20

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

5

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

125

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

10

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

400

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

45

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

5

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

4,775

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

Broken down further 88

One breakdown with many categories. These are never ranked against other areas: a comparison that pools thousands of rows into one peer set produces rankings that mean nothing.

MeasureLatestPeriod
01 : Crop and animal production, hunting and related service activities 10 2024
02 : Forestry and logging 15 2024
03 : Fishing and aquaculture 0 2024
05 : Mining of coal and lignite 0 2024
06 : Extraction of crude petroleum and natural gas 0 2024
07 : Mining of metal ores 0 2024
08 : Other mining and quarrying 50 2024
09 : Mining support service activities 0 2024
10 : Manufacture of food products 2,500 2024
11 : Manufacture of beverages 10 2024
12 : Manufacture of tobacco products 0 2024
13 : Manufacture of textiles 100 2024
14 : Manufacture of wearing apparel 10 2024
15 : Manufacture of leather and related products 0 2024
16 : Manufacture of wood and of products of wood and cork, except furniture;manufacture of articles of straw and plaiting materials 50 2024
17 : Manufacture of paper and paper products 400 2024
18 : Printing and reproduction of recorded media 100 2024
19 : Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products 0 2024
20 : Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products 10 2024
21 : Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations 0 2024
22 : Manufacture of rubber and plastic products 350 2024
23 : Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products 300 2024
24 : Manufacture of basic metals 30 2024
25 : Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment 450 2024
26 : Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products 75 2024
27 : Manufacture of electrical equipment 175 2024
28 : Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. 350 2024
29 : Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 175 2024
30 : Manufacture of other transport equipment 500 2024
31 : Manufacture of furniture 200 2024
32 : Other manufacturing 175 2024
33 : Repair and installation of machinery and equipment 125 2024
35 : Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 35 2024
36 : Water collection, treatment and supply 10 2024
37 : Sewerage 0 2024
38 : Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities; materials recovery 50 2024
39 : Remediation activities and other waste management services. This division includes the provision of remediation services, i.e. the cleanup of contaminated buildings and sites, soil, surface or ground water. 0 2024
41 : Construction of buildings 600 2024
42 : Civil engineering 225 2024
43 : Specialised construction activities 1,500 2024
45 : Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles 1,250 2024
46 : Wholesale trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles 2,500 2024
47 : Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles 4,000 2024
49 : Land transport and transport via pipelines 700 2024
50 : Water transport 0 2024
51 : Air transport 0 2024
52 : Warehousing and support activities for transportation 4,500 2024
53 : Postal and courier activities 450 2024
55 : Accommodation 125 2024
56 : Food and beverage service activities 3,000 2024
58 : Publishing activities 25 2024
59 : Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities 50 2024
60 : Programming and broadcasting activities 5 2024
61 : Telecommunications 50 2024
62 : Computer programming, consultancy and related activities 700 2024
63 : Information service activities 10 2024
64 : Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding 75 2024
65 : Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security 0 2024
66 : Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities 450 2024
68 : Real estate activities 1,750 2024
69 : Legal and accounting activities 800 2024
70 : Activities of head offices; management consultancy activities 2,250 2024
71 : Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis 225 2024
72 : Scientific research and development 20 2024
73 : Advertising and market research 75 2024
74 : Other professional, scientific and technical activities 225 2024
75 : Veterinary activities 100 2024
77 : Rental and leasing activities 450 2024
78 : Employment activities 2,000 2024
79 : Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities 25 2024
80 : Security and investigation activities 300 2024
81 : Services to buildings and landscape activities 1,500 2024
82 : Office administrative, office support and other business support activities 300 2024
84 : Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 300 2024
85 : Education 4,000 2024
86 : Human health activities 1,000 2024
87 : Residential care activities 700 2024
88 : Social work activities without accommodation 800 2024
90 : Creative, arts and entertainment activities 75 2024
91 : Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities 100 2024
92 : Gambling and betting activities 75 2024
93 : Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities 700 2024
94 : Activities of membership organisations 100 2024
95 : Repair of computers and personal and household goods 125 2024
96 : Other personal service activities 400 2024
97 : Activities of households as employers of domestic personnel 0 2024
98 : Undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of private households for own use 0 2024
99 : Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies 0 2024
Skills 6
% with NVQ1+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
86.9%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±9.4, basis not documented by the producer

% with NVQ2+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
72.2%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±12.5, basis not documented by the producer

% with NVQ3+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
57.0%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±13.8, basis not documented by the producer

% with NVQ4+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
38.5%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±13.6, basis not documented by the producer

7.5%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±7.3, basis not documented by the producer

5.6%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022