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%). source: Office for National Statistics

Non Farm Payrolls in the United Kingdom decreased by 43 thousand in December of 2025. Non Farm Payrolls in the United Kingdom averaged 25.29 Thousand from 2014 until 2025, reaching an all time high of 197.47 Thousand in May of 2021 and a record low of -453.81 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 February of 2026.

Non Farm Payrolls in the United Kingdom decreased by 43 thousand in December of 2025. 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
2025-12-16 07:00 AM
HMRC Payrolls Change
Nov -38K -22K -40.0K
2026-01-20 07:00 AM
HMRC Payrolls Change
Dec -43K -33K -20.0K
2026-02-17 07:00 AM
HMRC Payrolls Change
Jan -43K -10.0K


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Weekly Hours 31.80 31.90 Hours Nov 2025
Claimant Count Change 17.90 -3.30 Thousand Dec 2025
Employed Persons 34303.00 34226.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Employment Change 82.00 -16.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Employment Rate 75.10 74.90 percent Nov 2025
Full Time Employment 25537.00 25584.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Job Vacancies 734.00 728.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.20 79.00 percent Nov 2025
Labour Costs 110.60 109.20 points Jun 2025
HMRC Payrolls Change -42.55 -33.36 Thousand Dec 2025
Part Time Employment 8766.00 8642.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Population 69.28 68.49 Million Dec 2024
Labour Productivity 99.70 99.00 points Sep 2025
Unemployed Persons 1682.90 1662.80 Thousand Nov 2025
Unemployment Rate 5.10 5.10 percent Nov 2025
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.70 4.80 percent Nov 2025
Average Weekly Wages 741.00 740.00 GBP/Week Nov 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 808.00 805.00 GBP/Week Nov 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 13.70 13.40 percent Nov 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
-42.55 -33.36 197.47 -453.81 2014 - 2025 Thousand Monthly
SA

News Stream
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
UK Payroll Employment Falls 32K in October
The number of payrolled employees in the United Kingdom fell by 32 thousand, or 0.1% to 30.3 million in October 2025, following a similar revised decline in September. Compared with the same month last year, payrolled employment was down 0.6%, or 180 thousand. The largest increase was recorded in the public administration and defence sector, which added 16 thousand employees, while the biggest decrease was in wholesale and retail, which lost 71 thousand. Regionally, Westminster saw the sharpest drop (-3.3%), whereas Mid Ulster recorded the highest growth (+1.7%). Meanwhile, median monthly pay rose 3.1% year-on-year to £2,538, with the strongest increase in public administration and defence (+6.5%) and the steepest decline in health and social work (-1.9%).
2025-11-11