Buckinghamshire residents enjoy higher employment rates than the national average and are less likely to be unemployed or economically inactive. Among those who are economically inactive, a greater proportion are students, while fewer are long-term sick or disabled than nationally. Working-age residents in Buckinghamshire are also less likely to claim out-of-work benefits and tend to report better health than the national average (source: Annual Population Survey 2025 and DWP).

Employers in Buckinghamshire, however, face above-average recruitment challenges (source: Employer Skills Survey 2022, DfE). Vacancies are often difficult to fill due to a combination of factors, including skills and labour shortages, unattractive job conditions, and limited public transport access to employment sites. High levels of out-commuting and connectivity issues, common in rural areas, further exacerbate these difficulties. The county is a net exporter of workers, with 29,200 more residents commuting out than non-residents commuting in. London is a major destination, attracting 17% of Buckinghamshire’s working residents (source: Census 2021).

The county has a diverse economy rather than one dominated by a single sector. The health sector employs the largest share of workers locally, while the wholesale sector employs twice as many people as the national average. Employment in education, information and communication, construction, and arts, entertainment, and recreation is also slightly higher than average (source: Business Register and Employment Survey, ONS).

Part-time work is common in certain sectors, particularly health, retail, hospitality, and education, where many roles involve fewer than 30 hours per week. Overall, the proportion of public sector jobs in Buckinghamshire is relatively small compared to the national picture (source: Business Register and Employment Survey, ONS).