UK Payroll Employment Drops Most in 9 Months

The number of payrolled employees in the UK dropped by 26 thousand, or 0.1%, to 30.2 million in August 2026, following a revised 19 thousand fall in the previous month. This marked the seventh consecutive monthly decline and the sharpest fall since November 2025. Compared with a year earlier, employment fell by 0.5%, or 145 thousand. The wholesale and retail sector recorded the biggest annual decrease in payroll employment, shedding 76 thousand jobs, while the administrative and support services sector posted the largest increase, adding 72 thousand employees. Across NUTS3 regions, Camden and the City of London experienced a 2% drop in payrolled employees, whereas Causeway Coast and Glens saw a 1.1% rise. Meanwhile, median monthly pay increased by 3.5% year-on-year to £2,657, with the construction sector recording the highest growth at 5.5%, while median pay in the education sector decreased by 0.4%.

The number of payrolled employees in the UK fell by 13 thousand to 30.3 million in July 2026, following a revised 13 thousand decline in the previous month. This marked the sixth straight monthly decline, reflecting employers’ cautious approach to hiring amid increased uncertainty both domestically and internationally. Compared with a year earlier, employment dropped by 0.3%, or 94 thousand. The wholesale and retail sector registered the largest annual decrease in payroll employment, shedding 75 thousand jobs, while the administrative and support services sector posted the biggest increase, adding 63 thousand employees. Across NUTS3 regions, Camden and the City of London saw a 1.8% drop in payrolled employees, whereas Mid Ulster recorded a 1.5% rise. Meanwhile, median monthly pay rose by 4.2% year-on-year to £2,642, easing slightly from a 4.3% increase in June. Growth in median pay was highest in the health and social work sector (+5.3%) and lowest in the education sector (+3.3%).

The number of payrolled employees in the UK decreased by 4 thousand to 30.3 million in June 2026, following an upwardly revised increase of 3 thousand in May. Compared with a year earlier, employment fell by 0.2%, or 71 thousand, reflecting continued weakness in hiring. The accommodation and food service sector recorded the biggest annual decline in payroll employment, shedding 79,000 jobs, whereas the health and social work sector recorded the largest increase, adding 39,000 employees. Across NUTS3 regions, Westminster experienced a 2.0% drop in payrolled employees, while Mid Ulster recorded 2.1% growth. Meanwhile, median monthly pay rose by 4.3% year-on-year to £2,632, easing from a 4.6% increase in May. Growth in median pay was highest in the health and social work sector (+6.2%) and lowest in the education sector (+3.5%).