The number of payrolled employees in the United Kingdom fell by 11 thousand to 30.3 million in January 2026, following a downwardly revised 6 thousand drop in the previous month. This marked the fifth straight month of decline. Compared with the same month last year, payrolled employment dropped by 0.4%, or 134 thousand. The largest decrease was recorded in the wholesale and retail sector (-65 thousand), while the biggest rise was in the health and social work sector (+39 thousand). Across NUTS3 regions, Westminster saw a 2.7% fall in payrolled employees, whereas Mid Ulster registered a 2.3% increase. Meanwhile, the median monthly pay rose by 4.6% year-on-year to £2,588. Growth in median pay was highest in the wholesale and retail sector (+6.2%) and lowest in the finance and insurance sector (+2.1%). source: Office for National Statistics

Non Farm Payrolls in the United Kingdom decreased by 11 thousand in January of 2026. Non Farm Payrolls in the United Kingdom averaged 25.49 Thousand from 2014 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 197.11 Thousand in May of 2021 and a record low of -454.46 Thousand in April of 2020. This page provides - United Kingdom Payrolled Employees- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. United Kingdom HMRC Payrolls Change - values, historical data and charts - was last updated on March of 2026.

Non Farm Payrolls in the United Kingdom decreased by 11 thousand in January of 2026. Non Farm Payrolls in the United Kingdom is expected to be 15.00 Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom HMRC Payrolls Change is projected to trend around 45.00 Thousand in 2027 and 50.00 Thousand in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-01-20 07:00 AM
HMRC Payrolls Change
Dec -43K -33K -20.0K
2026-02-17 07:00 AM
HMRC Payrolls Change
Jan -11K -6K -10.0K
2026-03-19 07:00 AM
HMRC Payrolls Change
Feb -11K 5.0K


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Weekly Hours 31.90 31.80 Hours Dec 2025
Claimant Count Change 28.60 2.70 Thousand Jan 2026
Employed Persons 34244.00 34303.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Change 52.00 82.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Rate 75.00 75.10 percent Dec 2025
Full Time Employment 25499.00 25537.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Job Vacancies 726.00 736.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.20 79.20 percent Dec 2025
Labour Costs 112.70 110.70 points Sep 2025
HMRC Payrolls Change -10.56 -5.65 Thousand Jan 2026
Part Time Employment 8745.00 8766.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Population 69.28 68.49 Million Dec 2024
Labour Productivity 99.00 99.60 points Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 1662.20 1659.50 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 5.20 5.10 percent Dec 2025
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.20 4.60 percent Dec 2025
Average Weekly Wages 735.00 740.00 GBP/Week Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 810.00 807.00 GBP/Week Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.00 13.70 percent Dec 2025


United Kingdom HMRC Payrolls Change
In the UK, the number of payrolled employees is defined as the number of people receiving paid remuneration included in PAYE RTI within the reference period, including people who have not done work but are an employee - such as those on paid leave.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-10.56 -5.65 197.11 -454.46 2014 - 2026 Thousand Monthly
SA

News Stream
UK Payroll Employment Drops for 5th Month
The number of payrolled employees in the United Kingdom fell by 11 thousand to 30.3 million in January 2026, following a downwardly revised 6 thousand drop in the previous month. This marked the fifth straight month of decline. Compared with the same month last year, payrolled employment dropped by 0.4%, or 134 thousand. The largest decrease was recorded in the wholesale and retail sector (-65 thousand), while the biggest rise was in the health and social work sector (+39 thousand). Across NUTS3 regions, Westminster saw a 2.7% fall in payrolled employees, whereas Mid Ulster registered a 2.3% increase. Meanwhile, the median monthly pay rose by 4.6% year-on-year to £2,588. Growth in median pay was highest in the wholesale and retail sector (+6.2%) and lowest in the finance and insurance sector (+2.1%).
2026-02-17
UK Payroll Employment Falls to Lowest Since 2020
The number of payrolled employees in the United Kingdom dropped by 43 thousand, or 0.1% to 30.2 million in December 2025, following a revised 33 thousand fall in the previous month. This was the fourth consecutive monthly decline and the sharpest since November 2020. Compared with the same month a year earlier, payrolled employment decreased by 0.6%, or 184 thousand. The biggest fall was recorded in the wholesale and retail sector (-72 thousand), while the largest increase was in the health and social work sector (+37 thousand). Across NUTS3 regions, Westminster registered a 3% drop in payrolled employees, whereas Mid Ulster saw a 2% rise. Meanwhile, the median monthly pay increased by 4% year-on-year to £2,555. Growth in median pay was highest in the wholesale and retail sector (+5.9%) and lowest in the education sector (+1.4%).
2026-01-20
UK Payroll Employment Drops to 5-Year Low
The number of payrolled employees in the United Kingdom declined by 38 thousand, or 0.1% to 30.3 million in November 2025, following a revised 22 thousand drop in the previous month. This marked the third consecutive monthly decrease and the steepest since November 2020. Compared with the same month last year, payrolled employment fell by 0.6%, or 171 thousand. The largest decrease occurred in the wholesale and retail sector, which shed 70 thousand employees, while the strongest growth was recorded in health and social work sector, with an increase of 31 thousand. Across NUTS3 regions, Westminster saw the biggest fall in payrolled employees (-2.9%), whereas Mid Ulster recorded the highest increase (+2.1%). Meanwhile, the median monthly pay rose by 2.7% year-on-year to £2,543. The highest growth was seen in the wholesale and retail sector (+6.2%), while the sharpest drop was in the education sector (-3.3%).
2025-12-16