THE LATEST employment figures given by employment and pay app WageSight for December 2025 show the number of employees on payroll in Berkshire has decreased since December 2024.
Last month, businesses reported that payroll fell by 1,000, indicating continued pressure on jobs.
The trend in Berkshire reflects a mixed employment picture across the South East with some areas reporting improvements, but others continuing to see lower payroll numbers.
Paul Hebden, WageSight Director, said: “The latest figures underline the continued pressure on employment in Berkshire.
“Payroll remains down compared with last year, and recent month-on-month data suggests employers are still cutting back.”
Overall, employment in Berkshire remains lower than a year ago.
In 2025 it was 472,401, half a percent lower than the previous year, and employers have reported the number of people on payroll is down 2,601 (-0.5%) year-on-year.
Compared with other towns and cities in the South East, Berkshire ranks ninth out of 21, placing it mid-range for employment change.
Nationally, employment levels have shown a mixed picture over the past year, creating a challenging backdrop, but it remains too early to say whether recent changes mark the start of a sustained shift, or a temporary fluctuation.
Figures given are based on analysis of the latest Office for National Statistics payroll data by WageSight.
For further information, visit: wagesight.com
