Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts was 733,000 in 2024. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2024)
733,000
Change on year
down 72.4%
World rank
11th
of 90 countries
All-time high
13.55 million
in 1971
All-time low
169,600
in 2015
Years of data
31
1971–2024

Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom, 1971–2024

05.0M10.0M15.0M1971199720241971: 13.6M1993: 649.0k1994: 278.0k1995: 415.0k1996: 1.3M1997: 234.7k1998: 282.4k1999: 241.8k2000: 498.8k2001: 525.1k2002: 1.3M2003: 499.1k2004: 904.9k2005: 223.8k2006: 754.5k2007: 1.0M2008: 758.9k2009: 455.2k2010: 365.3k2011: 1.4M2012: 249.0k2013: 443.6k2014: 788.3k2015: 169.6k2016: 322.3k2017: 276.4k2018: 272.7k2019: 205.6k2022: 2.5M2023: 2.7M2024: 733.0k

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom is 733,000, measured in 2024.

The figure is down 72.4% on the previous year and down 7.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom peaked at 13.55 million in 1971 and was at its lowest, 169,600, in 2015.

That places United Kingdom 11th out of 90 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom, 1971 to 2024.
Year Value Change
1971 13.55 million —
1993 649,000 -95.2%
1994 278,000 -57.2%
1995 415,000 +49.3%
1996 1.30 million +214.0%
1997 234,700 -82.0%
1998 282,400 +20.3%
1999 241,800 -14.4%
2000 498,800 +106.3%
2001 525,100 +5.3%
2002 1.32 million +152.0%
2003 499,100 -62.3%
2004 904,900 +81.3%
2005 223,801 -75.3%
2006 754,500 +237.1%
2007 1.04 million +38.0%
2008 758,861 -27.1%
2009 455,200 -40.0%
2010 365,300 -19.7%
2011 1.39 million +280.5%
2012 249,000 -82.1%
2013 443,600 +78.2%
2014 788,300 +77.7%
2015 169,600 -78.5%
2016 322,300 +90.0%
2017 276,408 -14.2%
2018 272,695 -1.3%
2019 205,600 -24.6%
2022 2.51 million +1122.8%
2023 2.66 million +5.8%
2024 733,000 -72.4%

United Kingdom compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom's 733,000 is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,810, 192.4× the median. (50 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom's 733,000 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9,042, 81.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2022 +1122.8% 205,600 2.51 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 13.55 million 13.55 million 13.55 million 1
1990s 486,314 234,700 1.30 million 7
2000s 698,466 223,801 1.32 million 10
2010s 448,280 169,600 1.39 million 10
2020s 1.97 million 733,000 2.66 million 3

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 8 Indonesia 1.25 million compare
  2. 9 South Africa 832,490 compare
  3. 10 Israel 761,792 compare
  4. 12 Italy 722,714 compare
  5. 13 Spain 703,178 compare
  6. 14 Algeria 628,838 compare

See the full ranking of 90 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom?
Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom was 733,000 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest days not worked due to strikes and lockouts recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 13.55 million in 1971.
What is the lowest days not worked due to strikes and lockouts recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 169,600 in 2015.
How does United Kingdom rank for days not worked due to strikes and lockouts?
United Kingdom ranks 11th out of 90 countries with data for 2024.
Is days not worked due to strikes and lockouts rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 7.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 24 October 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/days-not-worked-due-to-strikes-and-lockouts/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Days not worked due to strikes and lockouts
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
90 places, 2,247 data points, 1969–2024
Last refreshed

Days not worked as a result of strikes and lockouts represent the total number of working days not worked as a result of strikes and lockouts in progress during the year. It is measured in terms of the sum of the actual working days during which work would normally have been carried out by each worker involved had there been no stoppage. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Industrial Relations data (IRdata) database description.