Employment – National: Key Economic Indicators

32.39 million people were in employment in October-December 2020. Employment was down 114,000 from the previous quarter and down 541,000 from the year before.

The employment rate (the proportion of the population aged 16-64 in work) was 75.0%, down from 76.5% a year previously.

15.49 million women were in work, down 39,000 from the previous quarter and down 117,000 from a year ago. The female employment rate was 71.8%. 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, down 75,000 from the previous quarter and down 424,000 from a year ago. The male employment rate was 78.2%.

The total number of people working full-time in October-December 2020 increased by 39,000 from the previous quarter and by 19,000 from the year before to 24.44 million.

Part-time employment decreased by 153,000 from the previous quarter and by 560,000 from the year before to 7.96 million.

The number of people in self-employment was down 152,000 from the previous quarter and down by 652,000 from the year before to 4.37 million. 27.89 million people were working as employees, up 48,000 from the last quarter and up 169,000 over the last year.