The Datum Report

Parliamentary constituency

North 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
% of economically inactive retired Apr 2025-Mar 2026 18.5% -8.1 in the bottom 6% of 469
% aged 16-64 who are self employed Apr 2025-Mar 2026 12.3% +2.5 in the top 8% of 629

By subject

Every figure published for North 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
12.3%
4.29.915.52021-09-30: 10.62021-12-31: 10.12022-03-31: 7.82022-06-30: 7.52022-09-30: 5.32022-12-31: 7.32023-03-31: 9.42023-06-30: 11.72023-09-30: 12.92023-12-31: 14.42024-03-31: 12.22024-06-30: 11.32024-09-30: 10.62024-12-31: 9.12025-03-31: 10.12025-06-30: 112025-09-30: 102025-12-31: 9.82026-03-31: 12.3 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 5.3 to 14.4 · axis starts at 4.2

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±5.0, basis not documented by the producer

Employment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
83.8%
7379.285.42021-09-30: 81.62021-12-31: 812022-03-31: 75.32022-06-30: 74.42022-09-30: 74.42022-12-31: 74.22023-03-31: 75.92023-06-30: 782023-09-30: 772023-12-31: 82.62024-03-31: 83.22024-06-30: 82.42024-09-30: 83.62024-12-31: 81.42025-03-31: 83.22025-06-30: 78.92025-09-30: 81.92025-12-31: 84.22026-03-31: 83.8 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 74.2 to 84.2 · axis starts at 73

ONS, Annual Population Survey - headline labour market rates, published 21 July 2026
±5.6, basis not documented by the producer

Unemployment rate - aged 16-64
Apr 2025-Mar 2026
2.4%
1.73.96.02021-09-30: 4.62022-03-31: 3.42022-06-30: 2.72022-09-30: 2.72022-12-31: 2.12023-03-31: 32023-06-30: 2.82023-09-30: 4.72023-12-31: 5.62024-03-31: 5.42024-06-30: 3.42024-09-30: 3.32024-12-31: 42025-03-31: 3.52025-06-30: 52025-09-30: 4.32025-12-31: 2.22026-03-31: 2.4 2021-09 2026-03
18 monthly readings · 2.1 to 5.6 · axis starts at 1.7

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

14.1%
10.518.125.72021-09-30: 14.52021-12-31: 17.32022-03-31: 222022-06-30: 23.62022-09-30: 23.52022-12-31: 24.22023-03-31: 21.72023-06-30: 19.82023-09-30: 19.22023-12-31: 12.62024-03-31: 122024-06-30: 14.62024-09-30: 13.62024-12-31: 15.22025-03-31: 13.72025-06-30: 172025-09-30: 14.52025-12-31: 13.92026-03-31: 14.1 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 12 to 24.2 · axis starts at 10.5

ONS, Annual Population Survey - variables (percentages), published 21 July 2026
±5.3, basis not documented by the producer

Claimant count
August 2026
1,720
1,2261,5581,8892021-09-30: 1,8252021-10-31: 1,7302021-11-30: 1,6802021-12-31: 1,6252022-01-31: 1,5702022-02-28: 1,5652022-03-31: 1,5252022-04-30: 1,4852022-05-31: 1,4002022-06-30: 1,3702022-07-31: 1,3902022-08-31: 1,3652022-09-30: 1,3452022-10-31: 1,3102022-11-30: 1,2902022-12-31: 1,3152023-01-31: 1,3302023-02-28: 1,3902023-03-31: 1,3902023-04-30: 1,4452023-05-31: 1,3852023-06-30: 1,3852023-07-31: 1,4152023-08-31: 1,3852023-09-30: 1,3552023-10-31: 1,4102023-11-30: 1,3502023-12-31: 1,4002024-01-31: 1,3852024-02-29: 1,4102024-03-31: 1,4302024-04-30: 1,4352024-05-31: 1,4452024-06-30: 1,4852024-07-31: 1,6052024-08-31: 1,6702024-09-30: 1,6252024-10-31: 1,6402024-11-30: 1,5902024-12-31: 1,5502025-01-31: 1,5552025-02-28: 1,6252025-03-31: 1,6452025-04-30: 1,6002025-05-31: 1,6452025-06-30: 1,6452025-07-31: 1,6152025-08-31: 1,6302025-09-30: 1,6402025-10-31: 1,6752025-11-30: 1,6352025-12-31: 1,6402026-01-31: 1,6452026-02-28: 1,7302026-03-31: 1,7102026-04-30: 1,6902026-05-31: 1,6852026-06-30: 1,7152026-07-31: 1,6652026-08-31: 1,720 2021-09 2026-08
60 monthly readings · 1,290 to 1,825 · axis starts at 1,226

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

2.6%
1.92.42.92021-09-30: 2.82021-10-31: 2.72021-11-30: 2.62021-12-31: 2.52022-01-31: 2.42022-02-28: 2.42022-03-31: 2.42022-04-30: 2.32022-05-31: 2.22022-06-30: 2.12022-07-31: 2.22022-08-31: 2.12022-09-30: 2.12022-10-31: 22022-11-30: 22022-12-31: 22023-01-31: 22023-02-28: 2.12023-03-31: 2.12023-04-30: 2.22023-05-31: 2.12023-06-30: 2.12023-07-31: 2.22023-08-31: 2.12023-09-30: 2.12023-10-31: 2.22023-11-30: 2.12023-12-31: 2.12024-01-31: 2.12024-02-29: 2.12024-03-31: 2.22024-04-30: 2.22024-05-31: 2.22024-06-30: 2.22024-07-31: 2.42024-08-31: 2.52024-09-30: 2.52024-10-31: 2.52024-11-30: 2.42024-12-31: 2.32025-01-31: 2.42025-02-28: 2.52025-03-31: 2.52025-04-30: 2.42025-05-31: 2.52025-06-30: 2.52025-07-31: 2.42025-08-31: 2.52025-09-30: 2.52025-10-31: 2.52025-11-30: 2.52025-12-31: 2.52026-01-31: 2.52026-02-28: 2.62026-03-31: 2.62026-04-30: 2.62026-05-31: 2.52026-06-30: 2.62026-07-31: 2.52026-08-31: 2.6 2021-09 2026-08
60 monthly readings · 2 to 2.8 · axis starts at 1.9

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.

30.0%
4.421.538.62021-09-30: 15.52021-12-31: 14.72022-03-31: 11.62022-06-30: 7.92022-09-30: 7.72022-12-31: 28.32023-03-31: 18.72023-06-30: 16.52023-09-30: 16.52023-12-31: 18.92024-03-31: 17.32024-06-30: 35.32024-09-30: 29.42024-12-31: 272025-03-31: 20.52025-06-30: 8.52025-09-30: 9.62025-12-31: 21.12026-03-31: 30 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 7.7 to 35.3 · axis starts at 4.4

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

—
7.114.421.72021-09-30: 13.92021-12-31: 11.52022-03-31: 12.52022-06-30: 11.42022-12-31: 8.52023-03-31: 162023-06-30: 17.82023-09-30: 19.72023-12-31: 19.92024-03-31: 20.32024-06-30: 12.62024-09-30: 15.42024-12-31: 13.2 2021-09 2024-12
13 monthly readings · 8.5 to 20.3 · axis starts at 7.1

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

18.5%
13.726.238.62021-09-30: 23.62021-12-31: 32.62022-03-31: 28.12022-06-30: 30.52022-09-30: 33.62022-12-31: 35.12023-03-31: 29.42023-06-30: 30.12023-09-30: 26.52023-12-31: 21.12024-03-31: 36.22024-06-30: 20.92024-09-30: 19.52024-12-31: 23.32025-03-31: 252025-06-30: 172025-09-30: 16.12025-12-31: 26.62026-03-31: 18.5 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 16.1 to 36.2 · axis starts at 13.7

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

31.7%
17.533.850.22021-09-30: 36.82021-12-31: 37.32022-03-31: 40.82022-06-30: 40.12022-09-30: 44.42022-12-31: 20.72023-03-31: 25.82023-06-30: 31.72023-09-30: 33.32023-12-31: 33.52024-03-31: 21.42024-06-30: 23.52024-09-30: 27.52024-12-31: 232025-03-31: 34.52025-06-30: 472025-09-30: 44.52025-12-31: 26.82026-03-31: 31.7 2021-09 2026-03
19 monthly readings · 20.7 to 47 · axis starts at 17.5

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

Pay 2
9.621.733.910th10th · 2023-04-30: £11.9310th · 2024-04-30: £12.5510th · 2025-04-30: £13.7525th25th · 2023-04-30: £14.0525th · 2024-04-30: £15.4925th · 2025-04-30: £17.49MedianMedian · 2023-04-30: £19.16Median · 2024-04-30: £21.39Median · 2025-04-30: £23.7875th75th · 2023-04-30: £25.6675th · 2024-04-30: £27.3875th · 2025-04-30: £31.52 2023-04 2025-04
3 periods · 10th, 25th, Median, 75th · axis starts at 9.6
10th25thMedian75th90th
£13.75£17.49£23.78£31.52—

ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings - resident analysis, published 3 November 2025
coefficient of variation 2.9%

9.817.925.910th10th · 2023-04-30: £11.3910th · 2024-04-30: £11.9410th · 2025-04-30: £12.5625th25th · 2023-04-30: £12.7625th · 2024-04-30: £13.4825th · 2025-04-30: £14.40MedianMedian · 2023-04-30: £15.02Median · 2024-04-30: £18.00Median · 2025-04-30: £18.7775th75th · 2023-04-30: £22.3875th · 2024-04-30: £23.6675th · 2025-04-30: £24.37 2023-04 2025-04
3 periods · 10th, 25th, Median, 75th · axis starts at 9.8
10th25thMedian75th90th
£12.56£14.40£18.77£24.37—

ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings - workplace analysis, published 3 November 2025
coefficient of variation 1.9%

Business 11
Businesses
2025
4,785

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

3,885

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

245

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

140

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

455

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

35

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

0

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

5,280

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 175 2024
02 : Forestry and logging 100 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 20 2024
09 : Mining support service activities 0 2024
10 : Manufacture of food products 800 2024
11 : Manufacture of beverages 10 2024
12 : Manufacture of tobacco products 0 2024
13 : Manufacture of textiles 20 2024
14 : Manufacture of wearing apparel 0 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 300 2024
17 : Manufacture of paper and paper products 150 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 50 2024
22 : Manufacture of rubber and plastic products 100 2024
23 : Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products 75 2024
24 : Manufacture of basic metals 5 2024
25 : Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment 350 2024
26 : Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products 175 2024
27 : Manufacture of electrical equipment 75 2024
28 : Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c. 400 2024
29 : Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 15 2024
30 : Manufacture of other transport equipment 0 2024
31 : Manufacture of furniture 10 2024
32 : Other manufacturing 75 2024
33 : Repair and installation of machinery and equipment 75 2024
35 : Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply 250 2024
36 : Water collection, treatment and supply 0 2024
37 : Sewerage 0 2024
38 : Waste collection, treatment and disposal activities; materials recovery 350 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. 35 2024
41 : Construction of buildings 600 2024
42 : Civil engineering 350 2024
43 : Specialised construction activities 2,000 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 3,500 2024
47 : Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles 2,500 2024
49 : Land transport and transport via pipelines 450 2024
50 : Water transport 0 2024
51 : Air transport 0 2024
52 : Warehousing and support activities for transportation 1,000 2024
53 : Postal and courier activities 450 2024
55 : Accommodation 600 2024
56 : Food and beverage service activities 2,250 2024
58 : Publishing activities 45 2024
59 : Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities 75 2024
60 : Programming and broadcasting activities 35 2024
61 : Telecommunications 50 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 50 2024
65 : Insurance, reinsurance and pension funding, except compulsory social security 10 2024
66 : Activities auxiliary to financial services and insurance activities 100 2024
68 : Real estate activities 600 2024
69 : Legal and accounting activities 350 2024
70 : Activities of head offices; management consultancy activities 700 2024
71 : Architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis 400 2024
72 : Scientific research and development 800 2024
73 : Advertising and market research 125 2024
74 : Other professional, scientific and technical activities 125 2024
75 : Veterinary activities 100 2024
77 : Rental and leasing activities 350 2024
78 : Employment activities 300 2024
79 : Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities 25 2024
80 : Security and investigation activities 125 2024
81 : Services to buildings and landscape activities 900 2024
82 : Office administrative, office support and other business support activities 450 2024
84 : Public administration and defence; compulsory social security 400 2024
85 : Education 3,000 2024
86 : Human health activities 1,750 2024
87 : Residential care activities 1,000 2024
88 : Social work activities without accommodation 600 2024
90 : Creative, arts and entertainment activities 100 2024
91 : Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities 125 2024
92 : Gambling and betting activities 50 2024
93 : Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities 700 2024
94 : Activities of membership organisations 1,500 2024
95 : Repair of computers and personal and household goods 45 2024
96 : Other personal service activities 300 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
94.5%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±5.4, basis not documented by the producer

% with NVQ2+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
85.4%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±8.3, basis not documented by the producer

% with NVQ3+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
69.5%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±10.8, basis not documented by the producer

% with NVQ4+ - aged 16-64
Jan 2021-Dec 2021
48.6%

ONS, Annual Population Survey - qualifications (NVQ levels), published 12 April 2022
±11.7, basis not documented by the producer

1.9%

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

3.6%

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