Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force was 34.32 million Persons in 2023. ▲ Rising
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in United Kingdom, 1995–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
In 2023, labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in United Kingdom stood at 34.32 million Persons. That is the highest value across all 29 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in United Kingdom peaked at 34.32 million Persons in 2023 and was at its lowest, 28.25 million Persons, in 1995.
United Kingdom ranks 8th of 46 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 29 years of available data.
Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 28.25 million Persons | — |
| 1996 | 28.36 million Persons | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 28.51 million Persons | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 28.58 million Persons | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 28.90 million Persons | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 29.07 million Persons | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 29.20 million Persons | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 29.47 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 29.71 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2004 | 29.95 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 30.31 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 30.81 million Persons | +1.6% |
| 2007 | 31.03 million Persons | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 31.41 million Persons | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 31.56 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 31.73 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 31.97 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 32.27 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2013 | 32.52 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2014 | 32.78 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 33.07 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 33.38 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 33.53 million Persons | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 33.82 million Persons | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 34.10 million Persons | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 34.06 million Persons | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 33.93 million Persons | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 34.01 million Persons | +0.2% |
| 2023 | 34.32 million Persons | +0.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 34.32 million Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 5.02 million Persons, 6.8× the median. (38 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 34.32 million Persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 4.77 million Persons, 7.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 28.52 million Persons | 28.25 million Persons | 28.90 million Persons | 5 |
| 2000s | 30.25 million Persons | 29.07 million Persons | 31.56 million Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.92 million Persons | 31.73 million Persons | 34.10 million Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 34.08 million Persons | 33.93 million Persons | 34.32 million Persons | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in United Kingdom?
- Labour indicators levels - regions — labour force in United Kingdom was 34.32 million Persons in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest labour indicators levels - regions — labour force recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 34.32 million Persons in 2023.
- What is the lowest labour indicators levels - regions — labour force recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.25 million Persons in 1995.
- How does United Kingdom rank for labour indicators levels - regions — labour force?
- United Kingdom ranks 8th out of 46 countries with data for 2023.
- Is labour indicators levels - regions — labour force rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Labour indicators levels - Regions — Labour force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 29 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
This dataset presents indicators on the size of the labour force, employment, and unemployment in large regions (TL2) and, where available, in small regions (TL3). Data definition and source The labour force status is presented by sex, for 15-64 year-olds and 15+ year-olds age ranges, the latter having less country coverage. Data is based on a labour force survey using ILO guidelines and collected from Eurostat (reg_lmk) for EU countries and via delegates of the OECD Working Party on Territorial Indicators (WPTI), as well as from national statistical offices' websites. Definition of regions Regions are subnational units below national boundaries. OECD countries have two regional levels: large regions (territorial level 2 or TL2) and small regions (territorial level 3 or TL3). For more information, see the OECD Territorial grid (pdf) and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table (xlsx). Cite this dataset OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database http://oe.cd/geostats. Further information OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance For questions and/or comments, please email RegionStat@oecd.org.