Employment – National: Key Economic Indicators

32.48 million people were in employment in January-March 2021. Employment was up 84,000 from the previous quarter but down 529,000 from the year before.

The employment rate (the proportion of the population aged 16-64 in work) was 75.2%, down from 76.3% a year previously.

15.58 million women were in work, up 87,000 from the previous quarter but down 145,000 from a year ago. The female employment rate was 72.2%. Increases in the rate over recent years are partly due to changes to the State Pension age for women.

16.90 million men were in work, the same as the previous quarter and down 384,000 from a year ago. The male employment rate was 78.2%.

The total number of people working full-time in January-March 2021 increased by 248,000 from the previous quarter and by 328,000 from the year before to 24.58 million.

Part-time employment decreased by 165,000 from the previous quarter and by 857,000 from the year before to 7.79 million.

The number of people in self-employment was down 44,000 from the previous quarter and down by 617,000 from the year before to 4.33 million. 28.02 million people were working as employees, up 126,000 from the last quarter and up 142,000 over the last year.