Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) was 1,729 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Time-related underemployment in United Kingdom, 2005–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for time-related underemployment in United Kingdom is 1,729, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 11.7% on the previous year and down 13.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, time-related underemployment in United Kingdom peaked at 2,199 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 954.02, in 2013.
United Kingdom ranks 2nd of 48 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,275 | — |
| 2006 | 1,340 | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 1,421 | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 1,489 | +4.8% |
| 2009 | 1,872 | +25.7% |
| 2010 | 2,008 | +7.3% |
| 2011 | 2,088 | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 2,199 | +5.3% |
| 2013 | 954.02 | -56.6% |
| 2014 | 956.55 | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 2,003 | +109.4% |
| 2016 | 1,827 | -8.8% |
| 2017 | 1,775 | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 1,655 | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 1,615 | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 1,977 | +22.4% |
| 2021 | 1,864 | -5.7% |
| 2022 | 1,474 | -20.9% |
| 2023 | 1,510 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | 1,549 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 1,729 | +11.7% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1,729 is above the median for high income countries, which is 27.41, 63.1× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1,729 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 22.98, 75.2× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +109.4% | 956.55 | 2,003 |
| 2013 | -56.6% | 2,199 | 954.02 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,479 | 1,275 | 1,872 | 5 |
| 2010s | 1,708 | 954.02 | 2,199 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,684 | 1,474 | 1,977 | 6 |
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 time-related underemployment in United Kingdom?
- Time-related underemployment in United Kingdom was 1,729 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest time-related underemployment recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2,199 in 2012.
- What is the lowest time-related underemployment recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 954.02 in 2013.
- How does United Kingdom rank for time-related underemployment?
- United Kingdom ranks 2nd out of 48 countries with data for 2025.
- Is time-related underemployment rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Time-related underemployment (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. Persons in time-related underemployment comprise all persons in employment, who satisfy the following three criteria during the reference period: a) are willing to work additional hours; b) are available to work additional hours i.e., are ready, within a specified subsequent period, to work additional hours, given opportunities for additional work; and c) worked less than a threshold relating to working time i.e., persons whose hours actually worked in all jobs during the reference period were below a threshold, to be chosen according to national circumstances. For details, refer to the Resolution concerning the measurement of underemployment and inadequate employment situations. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.