Oxford named among UK’s worst for employment as payroll drops

Latest employment data for February 2026 shows the number of employees on payroll in Oxford was 73,982, down minus 1.6 per cent on the same month last year.

In the most recent month, businesses reported that payroll fell by 43, indicating continued pressure on jobs.

Overall, employment in Oxford remains lower than a year ago, with employers reporting payroll headcount down 1,233 (minus 1.6 per cent) year-on-year.

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The figures are based on analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics payroll data by the employment insight platform WageSight.

Compared with other local authorities in the south east, Oxford ranks 63rd out of 63, placing it as the weakest performer for employment change (see attached).

The trend in Oxford reflects a mixed employment picture across the south east, with some areas reporting improvements while others continue to see pressure on payroll numbers.

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Nationally, employment levels have shown a mixed picture over the past year, creating a challenging backdrop.

Paul Hebden, director at WageSight, said: “The latest figures underline the continued pressure on employment in Oxford.

“Payroll remains down compared with last year, and recent month-on-month data suggests employers are still cutting back.”

It remains too early to say whether recent changes mark the start of a sustained shift or a temporary fluctuation.