Labour indicators levels - Regions β€” Labour force in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Labour indicators levels - Regions β€” Labour force was 34.32 million Persons in 2023. β–² Rising

Latest (2023)
34.32 million Persons
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
8th
of 46 countries
All-time high
34.32 million Persons
in 2023
All-time low
28.25 million Persons
in 1995
Years of data
29
1995–2023

Labour indicators levels - Regions β€” Labour force in United Kingdom, 1995–2023

010.0M20.0M30.0M1995200920231995: 28.3M Persons1996: 28.4M Persons1997: 28.5M Persons1998: 28.6M Persons1999: 28.9M Persons2000: 29.1M Persons2001: 29.2M Persons2002: 29.5M Persons2003: 29.7M Persons2004: 30.0M Persons2005: 30.3M Persons2006: 30.8M Persons2007: 31.0M Persons2008: 31.4M Persons2009: 31.6M Persons2010: 31.7M Persons2011: 32.0M Persons2012: 32.3M Persons2013: 32.5M Persons2014: 32.8M Persons2015: 33.1M Persons2016: 33.4M Persons2017: 33.5M Persons2018: 33.8M Persons2019: 34.1M Persons2020: 34.1M Persons2021: 33.9M Persons2022: 34.0M Persons2023: 34.3M Persons

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

In 2023, labour indicators levels - regions β€” 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 β€” 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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 5 Japan 69.57 million Persons compare
  2. 6 Mexico 61.01 million Persons compare
  3. 7 Germany 44.25 million Persons compare
  4. 9 France 31.76 million Persons compare
  5. 10 Italy 25.69 million Persons compare
  6. 11 Spain 24.83 million Persons compare

See the full ranking of 54 places β†’

More work & labour data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom β†’

Frequently asked questions

What is labour indicators levels - regions β€” labour force in United Kingdom?
Labour indicators levels - regions β€” 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 β€” 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 β€” 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 β€” labour force?
United Kingdom ranks 8th out of 46 countries with data for 2023.
Is labour indicators levels - regions β€” 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 β€” Labour force. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Labour indicators levels - Regions β€” Labour force in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 17 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/labour-indicators-levels-regions-labour-force/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Labour indicators levels - Regions β€” Labour force
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
54 places, 1,323 data points, 1995–2025
Last refreshed

<p>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).</p> <p><strong>Data definition and source</strong></p> <p>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.</p> <p><strong>Definition of regions</strong></p> <p>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 <a href="https://webfs-cfe.oecd.org/files/.Stat/region/OECD_territorial-grid_TL2024.pdf">(pdf)</a> and the OECD Territorial Correspondence Table <a href="https://webfs-cfe.oecd.org/files/.Stat/region/OECD%20Territorial%20correspondence%20-%20TL2024c.xlsx">(xlsx)</a>.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Cite this dataset</strong></p> <p>OECD Regions, Cities and Local Areas database&nbsp;<a href="http://oe.cd/geostats">http://oe.cd/geostats</a>.</p> <p><strong>Further information</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://regions-cities-atlas.oecd.org/">OECD Regions and Cities Statistical Atlas</a>&nbsp;</li> <li><a href="https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-regions-and-cities-at-a-glance-2024_f42db3bf-en.html">OECD Regions and Cities at a Glance</a></li> </ul> <p>For questions and/or comments, please email <a href="mailto:RegionStat@oecd.org">RegionStat@oecd.org</a>.</p>