Employment by status in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Employment by status was 86.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Employment by status in United Kingdom, 1991–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment by status in United Kingdom is 86.8%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment by status in United Kingdom peaked at 87.8% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 84.6%, in 2017.
That places United Kingdom 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 86.7% | 86.1% | 87.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 87.1% | 86.4% | 87.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.2% | 84.6% | 86.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 86.4% | 85.5% | 86.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 65.6% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 87.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 76.7% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 73.5% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment by status in United Kingdom?
- Employment by status in United Kingdom was 86.8% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment by status recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 87.8% in 2001.
- What is the lowest employment by status recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.6% in 2017.
- How does United Kingdom rank for employment by status?
- United Kingdom ranks 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment by status rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment by status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of people in employment working as employees, as a percentage of total employment.