Employment – National: Key Economic Indicators

A summary of the latest data on employment in the UK.

32.95 million people were in employment in March-May 2020. Employment was down 126,000 from the previous quarter but up 199,000 from the year before.

The employment rate (the proportion of the population aged 16-64 in work) was 76.4%, up from 76.0% a year previously. It compares to a post-recession low of 70.1% in July-September 2011.

15.70 million women were in work, down 26,000 from the previous quarter but up 233,000 from a year ago. The female employment rate was 72.7%. Increases in the rate over recent years are partly due to changes to the State Pension age for women.

17.25 million men were in work, 100,000 less than the previous quarter and 35,000 less than a year ago. The male employment rate was 80.1%.

The total number of people working full-time in March-May 2020 increased by 37,000 from the previous quarter and increased by 404,000 from the year before to 24.49 million.

Part-time employment decreased by 163,000 from the previous quarter and decreased by 205,000 from the year before to 8.46 million.

The number of people in self-employment was down 178,000 from the previous quarter and down by 105,000 from the year before to 4.85 million. 27.95 million people were working as employees, up 97,000 from the last quarter and up 327,000 over the last year