Jobs fall by over 1000 as Milton Keynes faces “continued pressure on employment”
Milton Keynes ranks among the weakest performers for employment change in the South East, according to a new study analysing payroll data across the country.
The number of employees on payroll in Milton Keynes was 145,596 last month (December 2025), according to new figures from WageSight. That’s down by 0.7% from the same month last year.
Businesses also reported that payroll fell by 142, indicating that they had reduced their number of staff. This all points to less jobs being available and less people being employed.
Overall, employment in Milton Keynes remains lower than a year ago, with employers reporting payroll headcount down by 960 (0.7%) year-on-year.
The figures are based on analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics payroll data by the employment and pay app WageSight.
Milton Keynes ranks 14th out of 21 towns and cities in the South East, placing it among the weakest performers for employment change.
The trend in Milton Keynes reflects a mixed employment picture across the South East of England, with some areas reporting improvements while others continue to see pressure on payroll numbers.
Nationally, employment levels have shown a mixed picture over the past year, creating a challenging backdrop.
Paul Hebden, WageSight Director, said: “The latest figures underline the continued pressure on employment in Milton Keynes. Payroll remains down compared with last year, and recent month-on-month data suggests employers are still cutting back.”
Time will tell if the recent changes mark the start of a sustained shift, or a temporary fluctuation.