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Economy and work in Bedford

Unitary authority

The west of the East of England. 196,398 people in 476 square kilometres.

4 layers about economy and work for Bedford, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

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Claimants by neighbourhood

Claimant count (Nomis) · August 2026

Under 1070 or more

Bedford’s 117 neighbourhoods range from 5 to 205.

Median full-time pay

CouncilGreat Britain only
£41,214
ONS earnings survey · 2025

Full-time workers living in Bedford earned a median of £41,214 in 2025.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Median full-time pay: Bedford among every council348 areas from £29,805 to £57,396. The middle area is £38,490. Bedford is £41,214.

People claiming out-of-work benefits

Council
5,460
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Bedford, 5,460 people were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

Open in mapSource and method
People claiming out-of-work benefits: Bedford among every council361 areas from 20 to 77,930. The middle area is 2,690. Bedford is 5,460.

Claimant rate

Council
4.5%
ONS via Nomis · Aug 2026

In Bedford, 4.5% of residents aged 16 to 64 were claiming out-of-work benefits in August 2026.

For the UK as a whole, the figure was 3.9%.

Against East of England
36% higher3.3%
Against the UK
15% higher3.9%
Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Claimant rate: Bedford among every council361 areas from 1.1% to 10.1%. The middle area is 3.2%. Bedford is 4.5%.

Employment rate

CouncilGreat Britain only
81.7%
ONS population survey · Mar 2026

81.7% of people aged 16 to 64 in Bedford were in work in the year to March 2026.

Bedford is joint 49th highest of 348 for employment rate.

Open in mapSource and methodEvery council ranked
Employment rate: Bedford among every council348 areas from 59.7% to 91.4%. The middle area is 76.3%. Bedford is 81.7%.