Some of the headline findings are below. For further detail, including how Buckinghamshire compares with neighbouring areas, download the full report on the Buckinghamshire Economic Intelligence Observatory website.

The Buckinghamshire Economy 2024 - headlines

• As has been the case nationally, the Buckinghamshire economy has faltered in recent years.
• Whilst the county’s economy is strong when compared with most other areas of England, it is not as strong as it once was, and tends to be out-performed by its neighbours and areas in the rest of the South East. 
• The latest data suggests some improvements in productivity growth over the last few years.
• Buckinghamshire has a much larger business base (on a 'per head of population' basis) than the national average.
• Micro firms are more dominant in the Buckinghamshire economy than the national average, but large companies provide a significant number of jobs.
• Buckinghamshire’s largest businesses (employing more than 250 people) are mainly located in the south of the county, in particular along the M4 corridor, in Aylesbury, in the north of the county (in the area which includes Silverstone Park), and in the area to the north of Thame. 
• Buckinghamshire has high business survival rates, and relatively low business birth and death rates.  
• Business death rates in Buckinghamshire have been increasing post-Covid, as have been the case nationally.
• Buckinghamshire has a relatively low proportion of high growth firms. High growth firms play an important role in growing local economies.  
• Buckinghamshire has comparatively small tradable and knowledge economy sectors, which are key drivers of economic growth. 
• The admin & support services and construction sectors have increased their contribution (in terms of jobs, firms and economic output) to the Buckinghamshire economy in recent years, whilst the relative contribution of the professional, scientific & technical and information & communication sectors has decreased.
• Buckinghamshire’s strategic growth sectors and clusters as identified in 2019 are: TV & film; high performance engineering; space and MedTech. They all retain significant potential for growth and productivity gains.
• Buckinghamshire’s green economy specialisms include: low carbon transport, ‘reduce, repair, recycle’, diversion of waste from landfill, and power.

For more facts and analysis, follow the Buckinghamshire Economic Intelligence Observatory @buckseconomy on X (Twitter).

Business Voice - Buckinghamshire Business Barometer survey results 

The results of the Buckinghamshire Business Barometer survey for Q4 2023 have been revealed after businesses were asked about their current trading situation, main challenges for the year ahead, barriers to growth, imports and exports, and their views on how the government's 2023 Autumn Statement will impact their business.

The results were shared with representatives from the business community at a special event hosted by Buckinghamshire Business First in January.

A summary of the headlines can be read here. The full report can be downloaded here.

Looking for more stats, research and analysis?

For more research and analysis on the Buckinghamshire economy, and how it compares to the national economy, visit the Buckinghamshire Economic Intelligence Observatory.

The Observatory is run by Buckinghamshire LEP and is a treasure trove of insights, information and statistics that help to tell the full story of business in Buckinghamshire.