There were over 34 million people employed in the United Kingdom in the three months to April 2025. In general, the number of people employed has consistently increased, with noticeable dips in employment occurring in 2008 due to the global financial crisis, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Labor market hot streak in 2022 Although there was a sharp increase in the UK's unemployment rate in the aftermath of COVID-19, the UK labor market bounced back forcefully after this sudden shock. By the middle of 2022, the UK's unemployment rate had recovered to pre-pandemic levels, while the number of job vacancies in the UK reached record highs. Wage growth was, by this point, growing at a much slower rate than inflation, which peaked at 11.1 percent in October 2022. In the two years since this peak, the UK labor market has cooled slightly; with unemployment reaching 4.4 percent by December 2024, and the number of job vacancies falling to the lowest figures since May 2021. Characteristics of UK workers As of 2024, the majority of UK workers were working in the private sector, at over 27.6 million workers. In the same year the size of the UK's public sector workforce stood at approximately 6.1 million, with over two million of these people working for the UK's National Health Service (NHS), and a further 1.66 million in the public education sector. In the UK's private sector, the industry sector which employed the most people was wholesale and retail, which had a workforce of over 4.9 million people, followed by administrative and support service roles at around 3.1 million.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 15 to 24 Years for United Kingdom (LFWA24TTGBQ647N) from Q2 1992 to Q1 2025 about 15 to 24 years, working-age, United Kingdom, and population.

According to the 2021 Census, 62.9% (37.5 million) of the overall population of England and Wales was of ‘working age’ (between 16 and 64 years old).

Graph and download economic data for Employment to Population Ratio for the United Kingdom (SLEMPTOTLSPZSGBR) from 1991 to 2024 about employment-population ratio, United Kingdom, employment, and population.

United Kingdom UK: Labour Force With Advanced Education: % of Total Working-age Population data was reported at 80.400 % in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 80.400 % for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Labour Force With Advanced Education: % of Total Working-age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 86.180 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2016, with 24 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 88.000 % in 2005 and a record low of 79.810 % in 2012. United Kingdom UK: Labour Force With Advanced Education: % of Total Working-age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Labour Force. The percentage of the working age population with an advanced level of education who are in the labor force. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Working-Age Population Total: From 15 to 64 Years for United Kingdom (LFWA64TTGBA647N) from 1993 to 2024 about working-age, 15 to 64 years, United Kingdom, and population.

Employment by industry and sex, UK, published quarterly, non-seasonally adjusted. Labour Force Survey. These are official statistics in development.

In 2047, the working age population of the United Kingdom is expected to be **** million, compared with **** million people of pensionable age. As a comparison, in 2022, there were approximately **** million people who were of working age, compared with twelve million pensioners.

As of the first quarter of 2025, the employment rate in the United Kingdom was highest among 35 to 49-year-old's, with **** percent of that age group employed. In the same quarter, approximately **** percent of over 65s were employed, a peak for this provided time period, while the employment rate for 16 to 24s was **** percent, one of the lowest rates for this age group.

39.8% of workers from the Indian ethnic group were in 'professional' jobs in 2021 – the highest percentage out of all ethnic groups in this role.

Employment, unemployment and economic inactivity levels and rates by age group, UK, rolling three-monthly figures, seasonally adjusted. Labour Force Survey. These are official statistics in development.

United Kingdom UK: Labour Force With Basic Education: % of Total Working-age Population data was reported at 50.613 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 49.278 % for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Labour Force With Basic Education: % of Total Working-age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 62.063 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2017, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 63.621 % in 1992 and a record low of 46.669 % in 2013. United Kingdom UK: Labour Force With Basic Education: % of Total Working-age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Labour Force. The percentage of the working age population with a basic level of education who are in the labor force. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

This dataset has now been discontinued following a user consultation. However figures for employment by occupation, sourced from our Annual Population Survey are available on our NOMIS website.

The number of employed people in the United Kingdom stood at approximately 33.62 million people in 2024. Between 1980 and 2024, the number rose by around 8.53 million people, though the increase followed an uneven trajectory rather than a consistent upward trend. From 2024 to 2026, the number will increase by about 610 thousand people.The indicator describes the number of employed people. This refers to persons who during a pre-defined period, either: a) performed wage or salary work, b) held a formal attachment to their job (even if not currently working), (c) performed for-profit work for personal or family gain , (d) were with an enterprise although temporarily not at work for any specific reason.

United Kingdom UK: Employment To Population Ratio: Modeled ILO Estimate: Aged 15-24: Male data was reported at 50.723 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 50.136 % for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Employment To Population Ratio: Modeled ILO Estimate: Aged 15-24: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 55.370 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 62.623 % in 1991 and a record low of 46.088 % in 2013. United Kingdom UK: Employment To Population Ratio: Modeled ILO Estimate: Aged 15-24: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Employment to population ratio is the proportion of a country's population that is employed. Employment is defined as persons of working age who, during a short reference period, were engaged in any activity to produce goods or provide services for pay or profit, whether at work during the reference period (i.e. who worked in a job for at least one hour) or not at work due to temporary absence from a job, or to working-time arrangements. Ages 15-24 are generally considered the youth population.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

United Kingdom UK: Labour Force With Intermediate Education: % of Total Working-age Population data was reported at 69.519 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 69.232 % for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Labour Force With Intermediate Education: % of Total Working-age Population data is updated yearly, averaging 76.160 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2017, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 77.939 % in 2000 and a record low of 69.232 % in 2016. United Kingdom UK: Labour Force With Intermediate Education: % of Total Working-age Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Labour Force. The percentage of the working age population with an intermediate level of education who are in the labor force. Intermediate education comprises upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average;

Labor force with advanced education (% of total working-age population with advanced education) in United Kingdom was reported at 87.29 % in 2023, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. United Kingdom - Labor force with advanced education (% of total) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on July of 2025.

Employment by age and sex for UK regions and countries, rolling three-monthly figures published monthly, not seasonally adjusted. Labour Force Survey.

The Labour Market Indicators spreadsheet for boroughs and regions will no longer be updated from March 2015. The final version from March 2015 will still be available to download at the bottom of this page. Most of the data is available within datasets elsewhere on the Datastore.

Workforce Jobs
Unemployment
Model based Unemployment for Boroughs
Claimant Count rates for Boroughs and Wards
Employment Rate Trends
Employment rates by Gender, Age and Disability
Number of Self Employed, Full and Part Time Employed
Employment by Occupation
Employment by Industry
Employment, Unemployment, Economic Activity and Inactivity Rates by Disability
Employment by Ethnicity
Economic Inactivity by Gender and Reason
Qualifications of Economically Active, Employed and Unemployed
Qualification levels of working-age population
Apprenticeship Starts and Achievements
Young People Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET), Borough
19 year olds Qualified to NVQ Level 3
GCE A level examination results of 16-18 year olds
GCSE Results by Pupil Characteristics
People Claiming Out-of-Work Benefits
People Claiming Incapacity Benefit
Children Living in Workless Households
Gross Value Added, and Gross Disposable Household Income
Earnings by place of residence
Earnings by place of work
Business Demographics
Employment projections by sector
Jobs Density
Population Estimates
Population Migration

Core Indicators

Number of London residents of working age in employment
Employment rate
Number of male London residents of working age in employment
Male employment rate
Number of female London residents of working age in employment
Female employment rate
Workforce jobs
Jobs density
Number of London residents of working age who are economically inactive
Economic inactivity rate
Number of London residents aged 16+ who are unemployed (model based)
Proportion of London residents aged 16+ who are unemployed (model based)
Claimant unemployment
Claimant Count as a proportion of the working age population
Incidence of skill gaps (Numbers and rates)
GCSE (5+ A*–C) attainment including English and Maths
Number of working age people in London with no qualifications
Proportion of working age people in London with no qualifications
Number of working age people in London with Level 4+ qualifications
Proportion of working age people in London with Level 4+ qualifications
Number of people of working age claiming out of work benefits
Proportion of the working age population who claim out of work benefits
Number of young people aged 16-18 who are not in

Educational status and labour market status of people aged 16 to 24 years, by sex, in and out of full-time education, UK, rolling three-monthly figures published monthly, seasonally adjusted. Labour Force Survey. These are official statistics in development.