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.
Employment by status in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 86.1% | — |
| 1992 | 86.4% | +0.3% |
| 1993 | 86.6% | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 86.3% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 86.3% | +0.1% |
| 1996 | 86.8% | +0.5% |
| 1997 | 86.9% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 87.4% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 87.3% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 87.7% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 87.8% | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 87.7% | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 87.0% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 86.9% | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 87.0% | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 86.8% | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 86.6% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 86.7% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 86.4% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 86.0% | -0.5% |
| 2011 | 85.8% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 85.3% | -0.6% |
| 2013 | 85.6% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 84.8% | -1.0% |
| 2015 | 85.0% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 84.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 84.6% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 84.9% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 85.0% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 85.5% | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 86.4% | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 86.7% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 86.6% | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 86.8% | +0.2% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 86.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 86.7%, 1.0× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 86.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 85.3%, 1.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
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
- 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 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.