Work and Local Economy

Not everyone has equal access to the business and tech sector, and the pace of change might be leaving some people behind:

• 76% of people believe they have the right skills to get a
  good job in MK [1]
  
  
• 66% of those who work in MK enjoy the type of job they
  do all or most of the time [2]

Milton Keynes is becoming known for technology and innovation. It now ranks fourth in the UK for the number of ‘new economy firms’, defined as businesses working in emerging, knowledge-intensive sectors at the forefront of new technologies. [3]

Milton Keynes is in the Top Ten (No. 8) of cities with the
highest average weekly earnings in 2024.[4]

Milton Keynes has the third-highest start-up rate, just
behind Slough and London. [5]

In October 2024, partially due to its reputation for innovation, Milton Keynes was announced as the location for a trial of robot street cleaners that will clean pavements and de-ice streets. [6]

C. £800,000 - government investment in robot innovation trial.

In September 2025, Milton Keynes hosted Tech Week, a flagship celebration of innovation and technology. It culminated in a Dragons’ Den-style event at Unity Place, where 10 local businesses pitched ideas that combined innovation with community purpose for a chance to win a cash prize.

However, those working to tackle inequality are concerned that the speed of change and the emphasis on innovation are making it harder to see the people who are struggling, and that some are being left behind. Unemployment remains a concern, though efforts are underway to address it. Unemployment increased to 4.34% in August 2025, which is lower than the England average but higher than the South East. [7] However, the number of workless households (households with no adults in employment) has decreased since last year.

• 8000 - number of workless households in Milton
Keynes in July 2024. [8]

MK City Council is supporting a ‘Get South Midlands Working’ project, under the Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ Initiative, to continue to address this.

For those who are in employment, there is a concern that wages are not keeping up with the cost of living, with survey respondents in the OU’s Hidden Toil report pointing out that many don’t have access to Milton Keynes' entertainment or leisure economy:

“Milton Keynes is widely considered a good city to live in. However, limited opportunities to earn a good income scupper the ability for residents to make full use of what the city has to offer.” [9]

Milton Keynes’ average wages have risen at a rate slightly below the UK average, and across the country and in MK, food banks are anecdotally reporting an increase in demand from households where one or two adults are in employment. Wages are also struggling to keep up with inflation and the cost of living.

• 17.6% - average rise in annual earnings in MK between
  2021 and 2024
  
  
• 21.6% - average rise in yearly earnings in the UK
  between 2021 and 2024 [10]

This shows the need to help people in the city find not just any job, but work that allows them to fully enjoy life in Milton Keynes.

Alongside concerns about wage deflation and cost of living, there are also concerns that not everyone can take advantage of the better-paid or emerging work opportunities the city has to offer. Barriers include AI recruitment processes, increasing digital skills demands,
and long-standing structural inequalities affecting women and minority ethnic groups.

Several initiatives across the city aim to empower specific groups excluded from Milton Keynes’ economy. ‘MK Innovates’, a branch of the women’s leadership award and networking organisation, Career Connect, held a STEM Festival in October 2025.

“We are tackling barriers that prevent people – especially those from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups – from seeing themselves in these industries.”

Dr Susan Izadkhasti, Trustee of Women Leaders UK and MK Innovates Festival Lead. [11]

Another example is an ambitious OU-led project titled Prototyping Community Innovation Hubs. The project will prototype an innovation hub to support creativity, entrepreneurship, and inclusive innovation among Black and Asian collectives and other minority ethnic groups, who continue to face barriers when setting up businesses. 20 Black and Asian-led businesses will be engaged in the prototype. [12]

Vital Thinking

As Milton Keynes aims to become an inspiring tech leader in the UK, how can it also hold and nurture the ambitions of the whole population, including groups that might be marginalised, excluded, or left behind?

Works For Us

Works for Us is a unique organisation that supports people on their journey into work. Kelly Murdoch, Team Manager, explains that their holistic approach focuses on confidence, motivation, and tackling isolation:

“It’s not about building a CV and interview prep. It’s about all those soft skills and that foundation block that we need to address before we can help people move forward”.

In recent years, Works for Us merged with Citizens’ Advice Bureau in a collaborative partnership, aiming to help people break free from the cycle of poverty and reach some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

Digital skills have become a major focus for the charity. It is addressing what it calls ‘the third wave of digital exclusion’, helping job-seekers navigate a complex and competitive recruitment landscape. For some, misusing AI tools can limit their chances; for others, a lack of access to technology, knowledge, or training completely blocks opportunities. Supported by funding from Milton
Keynes Community Foundation, Works for Us is also building an online platform to share resources and provide additional client support, expanding the reach of its in-person services.

The charity is also running a specialist project to support care providers affected by changes to visa status. When the Health and Care Worker visa was banned in July 2025, around 40,000 people across the UK were affected.