Number of strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Number of strikes and lockouts was 257 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Number of strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom, 1971–2024
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
United Kingdom recorded 257 for number of strikes and lockouts in 2024.
The figure is down 82.9% on the previous year and up 65.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom peaked at 2,228 in 1971 and was at its lowest, 79, in 2017.
That places United Kingdom 10th out of 99 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 2,228 | — |
| 1993 | 211 | -90.5% |
| 1994 | 205 | -2.8% |
| 1995 | 235 | +14.6% |
| 1996 | 244 | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 216 | -11.5% |
| 1998 | 166 | -23.1% |
| 1999 | 205 | +23.5% |
| 2000 | 226 | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 207 | -8.4% |
| 2002 | 162 | -21.7% |
| 2003 | 138 | -14.8% |
| 2004 | 135 | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 116 | -14.1% |
| 2006 | 158 | +36.2% |
| 2007 | 152 | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 144 | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 98 | -31.9% |
| 2010 | 92 | -6.1% |
| 2011 | 149 | +62.0% |
| 2012 | 131 | -12.1% |
| 2013 | 114 | -13.0% |
| 2014 | 155 | +36.0% |
| 2015 | 106 | -31.6% |
| 2016 | 101 | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 79 | -21.8% |
| 2018 | 81 | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 96 | +18.5% |
| 2022 | 750 | +681.2% |
| 2023 | 1,505 | +100.7% |
| 2024 | 257 | -82.9% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 257 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8, 32.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 257 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 8, 32.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Number of 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.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +681.2% | 96 | 750 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2,228 | 2,228 | 2,228 | 1 |
| 1990s | 211.71 | 166 | 244 | 7 |
| 2000s | 153.6 | 98 | 226 | 10 |
| 2010s | 110.4 | 79 | 155 | 10 |
| 2020s | 837.33 | 257 | 1,505 | 3 |
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 number of strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom?
- Number of strikes and lockouts in United Kingdom was 257 in 2024, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2,228 in 1971.
- What is the lowest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 79 in 2017.
- How does United Kingdom rank for number of strikes and lockouts?
- United Kingdom ranks 10th out of 99 countries with data for 2024.
- Is number of strikes and lockouts rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 65.8%. 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 Number of strikes and lockouts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 31 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
A strike is a temporary work stoppage carried out by one or more groups of workers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other workers in their demands or grievances. A lockout is a total or partial temporary closure of one or more places of employment, or the hindering of the normal work activities of employees, by one or more employers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other employers in their demands or grievances. 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.