The latest employment and pay figures for the East of England reveal a mixed picture for the local economy. While the region has seen a small drop in the number of people on payrolls, wages continue to rise ahead of inflation.
In Bedford, there were 89,292 employees on company payrolls in August 2025, down 0.1% compared with the same month last year. Huntingdonshire, which includes St Neots, recorded 87,357 employees – also down 0.1%. Across the East of England as a whole, the number of jobs fell by 6,905 over the last 12 months, mirroring the national trend of a 0.4% drop, or 126,953 posts lost across the UK.
Despite the small decline in employment, the outlook for workers’ earnings is more positive. Median monthly wages in the region rose by 6.5% over the past year to £2,632, significantly outpacing inflation and providing a boost to those in work.
Not all areas were affected equally. Central Bedfordshire bucked the trend with a modest rise in jobs, up 0.1% to 143,516 employees. Meanwhile, other towns and districts, including Bedford and Huntingdonshire, experienced slight falls, highlighting that the economic picture can vary across the region.
Analysts say the data points to a steady but cautious local economy, where employers are trimming staff slightly but wage growth remains strong, offering some reassurance for those in work.
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