The Datum Report

Parliamentary constituency

Luton South and South Bedfordshire

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 64.7% -5.0 in the bottom 5% of 632
% who are economically inactive - aged 16-64 Apr 2025-Mar 2026 29.6% +4.5 in the top 4% of 632
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 7.7% -2.4 in the bottom 7% of 629

By subject

Every figure published for Luton South and South 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
7.7%
5.59.213.02021-09-30: 9.22021-12-31: 7.82022-03-31: 6.42022-06-30: 6.52022-09-30: 6.22022-12-31: 6.92023-03-31: 6.72023-06-30: 10.12023-09-30: 8.72023-12-31: 9.42024-03-31: 12.32024-06-30: 8.62024-09-30: 9.82024-12-31: 8.22025-03-31: 102025-06-30: 10.52025-09-30: 6.82025-12-31: 10.12026-03-31: 7.7 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 6.2 to 12.3 · axis starts at 5.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±3.6, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
64.7%
63.868.473.02021-09-30: 72.12021-12-31: 70.52022-03-31: 70.82022-06-30: 682022-09-30: 71.42022-12-31: 692023-03-31: 68.32023-06-30: 70.72023-09-30: 67.82023-12-31: 65.92024-03-31: 722024-06-30: 652024-09-30: 66.82024-12-31: 64.72025-03-31: 65.12025-06-30: 67.32025-09-30: 69.82025-12-31: 69.72026-03-31: 64.7 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 64.7 to 72.1 · axis starts at 63.8

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
8.1%
1.97.212.62021-09-30: 7.22021-12-31: 6.72022-03-31: 6.42022-06-30: 62022-09-30: 2.92022-12-31: 32023-03-31: 4.22023-06-30: 3.82023-09-30: 5.92023-12-31: 8.12024-03-31: 7.72024-06-30: 11.62024-09-30: 9.72024-12-31: 9.52025-03-31: 82025-06-30: 5.32025-09-30: 4.72025-12-31: 72026-03-31: 8.1 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 2.9 to 11.6 · axis starts at 1.9

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

29.6%
21.125.830.52021-09-30: 22.42021-12-31: 24.52022-03-31: 24.32022-06-30: 27.72022-09-30: 26.42022-12-31: 28.82023-03-31: 28.72023-06-30: 26.52023-09-30: 282023-12-31: 28.32024-03-31: 222024-06-30: 26.52024-09-30: 262024-12-31: 28.52025-03-31: 29.22025-06-30: 28.92025-09-30: 26.82025-12-31: 25.12026-03-31: 29.6 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 22 to 29.6 · axis starts at 21.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±6.1, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
6,120
4,2355,6056,9752021-09-30: 6,4052021-10-31: 6,2252021-11-30: 6,0902021-12-31: 5,8852022-01-31: 5,8302022-02-28: 5,7602022-03-31: 5,5802022-04-30: 5,3102022-05-31: 5,1602022-06-30: 4,9452022-07-31: 4,8202022-08-31: 4,7352022-09-30: 4,6602022-10-31: 4,5002022-11-30: 4,5702022-12-31: 4,6252023-01-31: 4,5902023-02-28: 4,7052023-03-31: 4,9102023-04-30: 5,1352023-05-31: 5,0902023-06-30: 5,1202023-07-31: 5,1652023-08-31: 5,1452023-09-30: 5,2302023-10-31: 5,2002023-11-30: 5,1852023-12-31: 5,2302024-01-31: 5,2602024-02-29: 5,3902024-03-31: 5,4902024-04-30: 5,5152024-05-31: 5,5902024-06-30: 5,8452024-07-31: 6,5402024-08-31: 6,4902024-09-30: 6,5402024-10-31: 6,5952024-11-30: 6,4302024-12-31: 6,2952025-01-31: 6,3152025-02-28: 6,4702025-03-31: 6,5652025-04-30: 6,5552025-05-31: 6,6252025-06-30: 6,7102025-07-31: 6,5502025-08-31: 6,4102025-09-30: 6,3402025-10-31: 6,2352025-11-30: 6,1702025-12-31: 6,0352026-01-31: 5,9402026-02-28: 6,0452026-03-31: 6,0652026-04-30: 6,0352026-05-31: 6,0602026-06-30: 6,0752026-07-31: 5,9802026-08-31: 6,120 2021-09 2026-08
60 monthly readings · 4,500 to 6,710 · axis starts at 4,235

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

6.8%
56.58.12021-09-30: 7.82021-10-31: 7.62021-11-30: 7.42021-12-31: 7.22022-01-31: 6.92022-02-28: 6.92022-03-31: 6.62022-04-30: 6.32022-05-31: 6.12022-06-30: 5.92022-07-31: 5.72022-08-31: 5.62022-09-30: 5.52022-10-31: 5.42022-11-30: 5.42022-12-31: 5.52023-01-31: 5.32023-02-28: 5.42023-03-31: 5.62023-04-30: 5.92023-05-31: 5.82023-06-30: 5.92023-07-31: 5.92023-08-31: 5.92023-09-30: 62023-10-31: 62023-11-30: 5.92023-12-31: 62024-01-31: 5.82024-02-29: 62024-03-31: 6.12024-04-30: 6.12024-05-31: 6.22024-06-30: 6.52024-07-31: 7.32024-08-31: 7.22024-09-30: 7.32024-10-31: 7.32024-11-30: 7.12024-12-31: 72025-01-31: 72025-02-28: 7.22025-03-31: 7.32025-04-30: 7.32025-05-31: 7.42025-06-30: 7.52025-07-31: 7.32025-08-31: 7.12025-09-30: 72025-10-31: 6.92025-11-30: 6.92025-12-31: 6.72026-01-31: 6.62026-02-28: 6.72026-03-31: 6.72026-04-30: 6.72026-05-31: 6.72026-06-30: 6.82026-07-31: 6.62026-08-31: 6.8 2021-09 2026-08
60 monthly readings · 5.3 to 7.8 · axis starts at 5

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.

32.6%
12.127.542.92021-09-30: 28.32021-12-31: 30.42022-03-31: 33.32022-06-30: 39.92022-09-30: 332022-12-31: 15.12023-03-31: 23.62023-06-30: 16.92023-09-30: 21.12023-12-31: 25.72024-03-31: 23.62024-06-30: 26.92024-09-30: 24.92024-12-31: 21.32025-03-31: 26.72025-06-30: 26.62025-09-30: 30.32025-12-31: 32.52026-03-31: 32.6 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 15.1 to 39.9 · axis starts at 12.1

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±11.5, basis not documented by the producer

31.7%
16.228.140.12021-09-30: 20.72021-12-31: 21.52022-03-31: 23.62022-06-30: 272022-09-30: 31.52022-12-31: 28.72023-03-31: 37.82023-06-30: 36.22023-09-30: 36.12023-12-31: 282024-03-31: 23.32024-06-30: 26.52024-09-30: 21.62024-12-31: 19.42025-03-31: 23.12025-06-30: 18.52025-09-30: 30.72025-12-31: 36.92026-03-31: 31.7 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 18.5 to 37.8 · axis starts at 16.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±11.4, basis not documented by the producer

5.1%
1.39.618.02021-09-30: 9.52021-12-31: 15.22022-03-31: 13.22022-06-30: 9.82022-09-30: 102023-03-31: 2.92023-06-30: 3.92023-09-30: 6.22023-12-31: 14.12024-03-31: 11.32024-06-30: 16.42024-09-30: 14.92024-12-31: 6.42025-03-31: 5.82025-06-30: 7.92025-09-30: 4.22025-12-31: 3.72026-03-31: 5.1 2021-09 2026-03
18 monthly readings · 2.9 to 16.4 · axis starts at 1.3

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

22.3%
5.626.948.22021-09-30: 33.62021-12-31: 25.22022-03-31: 18.42022-06-30: 11.82022-09-30: 9.72022-12-31: 372023-03-31: 19.82023-06-30: 29.32023-09-30: 26.42023-12-31: 24.92024-03-31: 38.62024-06-30: 22.22024-09-30: 27.62024-12-31: 44.12025-03-31: 32.82025-06-30: 33.12025-09-30: 20.72025-12-31: 18.12026-03-31: 22.3 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 9.7 to 44.1 · axis starts at 5.6

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±10.2, basis not documented by the producer

Pay 2
9.216.523.910th10th · 2023-04-30: £10.6110th · 2024-04-30: £11.8610th · 2025-04-30: £12.6025th25th · 2023-04-30: £11.9725th · 2024-04-30: £13.0125th · 2025-04-30: £14.16MedianMedian · 2023-04-30: £15.46Median · 2024-04-30: £16.81Median · 2025-04-30: £17.7375th75th · 2023-04-30: £21.0075th · 2024-04-30: £22.4775th · 2025-04-30: £22.32 2023-04 2025-04
3 periods · 10th, 25th, Median, 75th · axis starts at 9.2
10th25thMedian75th90th
£12.60£14.16£17.73£22.32—

ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings - resident analysis, published 3 November 2025
coefficient of variation 1.3%

9.019.329.510th10th · 2023-04-30: £11.0010th · 2024-04-30: £12.3810th · 2025-04-30: £12.7625th25th · 2023-04-30: £12.7925th · 2024-04-30: £15.1825th · 2025-04-30: £14.94MedianMedian · 2023-04-30: £17.06Median · 2024-04-30: £20.01Median · 2025-04-30: £19.8375th75th · 2023-04-30: £23.0475th · 2024-04-30: £27.0175th · 2025-04-30: £27.56 2023-04 2025-04
3 periods · 10th, 25th, Median, 75th · axis starts at 9.0
10th25thMedian75th90th
£12.76£14.94£19.83£27.56—

ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings - workplace analysis, published 3 November 2025
coefficient of variation 1.3%

Business 11
Businesses
2025
5,495

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

4,490

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

260

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

25

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

15

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

525

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

40

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

6,280

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 0 2024
02 : Forestry and logging 5 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 10 2024
09 : Mining support service activities 0 2024
10 : Manufacture of food products 500 2024
11 : Manufacture of beverages 0 2024
12 : Manufacture of tobacco products 0 2024
13 : Manufacture of textiles 50 2024
14 : Manufacture of wearing apparel 50 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 35 2024
17 : Manufacture of paper and paper products 0 2024
18 : Printing and reproduction of recorded media 175 2024
19 : Manufacture of coke and refined petroleum products 0 2024
20 : Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products 75 2024
21 : Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations 350 2024
22 : Manufacture of rubber and plastic products 100 2024
23 : Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products 15 2024
24 : Manufacture of basic metals 10 2024
25 : Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment 350 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. 75 2024
29 : Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 1,000 2024
30 : Manufacture of other transport equipment 600 2024
31 : Manufacture of furniture 5 2024
32 : Other manufacturing 40 2024
33 : Repair and installation of machinery and equipment 300 2024
35 : Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 20 2024
36 : Water collection, treatment and supply 0 2024
37 : Sewerage 40 2024
38 : Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities; materials recovery 35 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 900 2024
42 : Civil engineering 300 2024
43 : Specialised construction activities 1,250 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 2,000 2024
47 : Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles 4,500 2024
49 : Land transport and transport via pipelines 2,000 2024
50 : Water transport 0 2024
51 : Air transport 4,000 2024
52 : Warehousing and support activities for transportation 2,250 2024
53 : Postal and courier activities 600 2024
55 : Accommodation 600 2024
56 : Food and beverage service activities 3,500 2024
58 : Publishing activities 175 2024
59 : Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities 150 2024
60 : Programming and broadcasting activities 75 2024
61 : Telecommunications 125 2024
62 : Computer programming, consultancy and related activities 800 2024
63 : Information service activities 15 2024
64 : Financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding 300 2024
65 : Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security 0 2024
66 : Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities 75 2024
68 : Real estate activities 3,000 2024
69 : Legal and accounting activities 1,250 2024
70 : Activities of head offices; management consultancy activities 1,250 2024
71 : Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis 2,000 2024
72 : Scientific research and development 25 2024
73 : Advertising and market research 175 2024
74 : Other professional, scientific and technical activities 100 2024
75 : Veterinary activities 75 2024
77 : Rental and leasing activities 450 2024
78 : Employment activities 10,000 2024
79 : Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities 4,000 2024
80 : Security and investigation activities 800 2024
81 : Services to buildings and landscape activities 14,000 2024
82 : Office administrative, office support and other business support activities 400 2024
84 : Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 3,500 2024
85 : Education 5,000 2024
86 : Human health activities 1,750 2024
87 : Residential care activities 1,250 2024
88 : Social work activities without accommodation 1,250 2024
90 : Creative, arts and entertainment activities 75 2024
91 : Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities 400 2024
92 : Gambling and betting activities 250 2024
93 : Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities 800 2024
94 : Activities of membership organisations 450 2024
95 : Repair of computers and personal and household goods 50 2024
96 : Other personal service activities 500 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
78.4%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±8.2, basis not documented by the producer

% with NVQ2+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
70.8%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±9.0, basis not documented by the producer

% with NVQ3+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
50.5%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±9.9, basis not documented by the producer

% with NVQ4+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
33.4%

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

10.0%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±6.0, basis not documented by the producer

11.6%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±6.4, basis not documented by the producer