UK labour force and trade unions, annual
The internationally comparable picture of who works in Britain and on what terms, annually and by sex: the share of each age group in the labour force back to 1966 — the longest run of comparable UK participation data there is — employment by broad sector and by status, average weekly hours worked, the unemployment rate by level of education, and the share of everything Britain produces that ends up as pay rather than as return on capital.
| Indicator | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 | 1983 | 1981 | 1971 | 1966 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labour force (ILO)16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Participation rate, Both sexes5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Participation rate, Men5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Participation rate, Women5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment by sector, Both sexes7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment by sector, Men7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment by sector, Women7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment by status, Both sexes3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment by status, Men3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Employment by status, Women3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weekly hours worked, Both sexes7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weekly hours worked, Men7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weekly hours worked, Women7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unemployment rate by education, Both sexes5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unemployment rate by education, Men5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unemployment rate by education, Women5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Labour income share of GDP | 57.71 | 57.7 | 56.41 | 55.87 | 55.69 | 57.4 | 59.63 | 56.17 | 55.87 | 55.82 | 56.23 | 56.18 | 56.92 | 57.1 | 57.5 | 57.73 | 58.83 | 59.53 | 59.1 | 59.72 | 58.76 | 58.59 | 58.62 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade union membership (Department for Business and Trade)2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trade union members7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Union density (members as % of employees)19 |
Latest reading
Aged 15 and over stood at 62.84% in 2025. That is +0.8 pp from 2024. The series on this page is annual and runs from 1966 to 2025. Source: International Labour Organization (ILOSTAT); Department for Business and Trade — Trade union statistics.
- Latest
- 62.84%
- 2025
- vs previous period
- +0.8 pp
- 2024
About this data
The internationally comparable picture of who works in Britain and on what terms, annually and by sex: the share of each age group in the labour force back to 1966 — the longest run of comparable UK participation data there is — employment by broad sector and by status, average weekly hours worked, the unemployment rate by level of education, and the share of everything Britain produces that ends up as pay rather than as return on capital. Compiled by the International Labour Organization on definitions used identically in every country. Also on this page: trade union membership and union density by sector, sex and region (Department for Business and Trade).
Frequently asked questions
- What do the UK labour force and trade union statistics cover?
- The table reports UK labour force participation, employment status, weekly hours worked, and unemployment by educational attainment, alongside trade union membership counts and density rates.
- How far back do these UK labour market and trade union records go?
- Annual UK labour force indicators compiled by the International Labour Organization begin in 1966, while Great Britain employee series from the Department for Business and Trade are recorded from 1989.
- Which age groups and education levels are broken down in the UK labour force data?
- The UK dataset breaks down the labour force across age brackets including aged 15 and over, 25 to 54, 55 to 64, and 65 and over, with education levels categorized from less than basic to advanced.
- Which geographic breakdowns are provided for trade union membership?
- Trade union statistics cover the whole United Kingdom, employees in Great Britain, and regional breakdowns including Wales, the North West, and the East of England.
