The number of employed people in the United Kingdom rose by 148 thousand to 34.475 million in the three months to May 2026, exceeding expectations for a gain of 85 thousand and following a 99 thousand increase in the previous period. This marked the largest increase since July 2025, driven by increases in both full-time and part-time employment. Compared with a year earlier, employment increased by 340 thousand, reflecting gains in both full-time employees and part-time self-employed workers. Despite the increase in employment, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 edged up to 75.1% from 75.0% in the previous quarter but remained 0.1 percentage point below a year earlier, extending the broadly stable trend seen since mid-2024. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs rose over the quarter to 1.278 million, accounting for 3.7% of total employment, though it remained below the level recorded a year earlier. source: Office for National Statistics

Employment in the United Kingdom increased by 148 in May of 2026. Employment Change in the United Kingdom averaged 44.73 Thousand from 1971 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 385.00 Thousand in August of 2024 and a record low of -477.00 Thousand in May of 2020. This page provides - United Kingdom Employment Change- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. United Kingdom Employment Change - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on August of 2026.

Employment in the United Kingdom increased by 148 in May of 2026. Employment Change in the United Kingdom is expected to be 25.00 Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Employment Change is projected to trend around 40.00 Thousand in 2027 and 45.00 Thousand in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-18 06:00 AM
Employment Change
Apr 100K 148K 75K 80.0K
2026-07-21 06:00 AM
Employment Change
May 147K 99K 85.0K 70.0K
2026-08-18 06:00 AM
Employment Change
Jun 147K 15.0K


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Weekly Hours 31.90 31.80 Hours May 2026
Claimant Count Change 6.70 1.30 Thousand Jun 2026
Employed Persons 34475.00 34411.00 Thousand May 2026
Employment Change 148.00 99.00 Thousand May 2026
Employment Rate 75.10 75.10 percent May 2026
Full Time Employment 25695.00 25664.00 Thousand May 2026
Job Vacancies 712.00 710.00 Thousand May 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.10 79.00 percent May 2026
Labour Costs 112.50 111.50 points Dec 2025
HMRC Payrolls Change -3.86 2.83 Thousand Jun 2026
Part Time Employment 8780.00 8748.00 Thousand May 2026
Population 69.49 69.28 Million Dec 2025
Labour Productivity 99.99 99.10 points Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 1681.90 1680.60 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.90 4.90 percent May 2026
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.30 4.40 percent May 2026
Average Weekly Wages 749.00 754.00 GBP/Week May 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 812.00 823.00 GBP/Week May 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.80 14.50 percent May 2026


United Kingdom Employment Change
In the United Kingdom, employment change refers to the 3-month moving average compared to the previous period in the number of people in employment aged 16 and over.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
148.00 99.00 385.00 -477.00 1971 - 2026 Thousand Monthly
SA

News Stream
UK Employment Rises Most in 10 Months
The number of employed people in the United Kingdom rose by 148 thousand to 34.475 million in the three months to May 2026, exceeding expectations for a gain of 85 thousand and following a 99 thousand increase in the previous period. This marked the largest increase since July 2025, driven by increases in both full-time and part-time employment. Compared with a year earlier, employment increased by 340 thousand, reflecting gains in both full-time employees and part-time self-employed workers. Despite the increase in employment, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 edged up to 75.1% from 75.0% in the previous quarter but remained 0.1 percentage point below a year earlier, extending the broadly stable trend seen since mid-2024. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs rose over the quarter to 1.278 million, accounting for 3.7% of total employment, though it remained below the level recorded a year earlier.
2026-07-21
UK Employment Rises Above Expectations
The number of employed people in the United Kingdom rose by 100 thousand to 34.410 million in the three months to April 2026, following a 148 thousand increase in the previous period and above forecasts of a 75 thousand gain. This was mainly driven by growth in full-time employment, while part-time work declined over the quarter. Compared with a year earlier, employment increased by 399 thousand, reflecting gains in both full-time and part-time workers, with the rise in full-time employment driven by employees and the increase in part-time work supported by self-employed workers. Despite this, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 remained unchanged at 75.0%, both over the quarter and compared with a year earlier, following a period of relative stability since mid-2024. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs declined to 1.277 million, accounting for 3.7% of total employment.
2026-06-18
UK Employment Rises Most in 8 Months
The number of employed people in the United Kingdom rose by 148 thousand to 34.392 million in the three months to March 2026, following a downwardly revised 24 thousand increase in the previous period. The reading also topped expectations of a 107 thousand gain and marked the largest job increase since July last year, driven by growth in both full-time and part-time work among employees and the self-employed, with full-time roles contributing most to the overall rise. Compared with a year earlier, employment increased by 416 thousand. Despite this, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 edged up by just 0.1 percentage points to 75.0%, remaining broadly stable over the year. Meanwhile, the number of people holding second jobs declined to 1.273 million, accounting for 3.7% of those in employment.
2026-05-19