UK payrolled employees: manufacturing
UK payrolled employees: manufacturing stood at 2,280,916 people in Aug 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Pay and employment from PAYE table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jul 2014 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Pay and employment from PAYE table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payrolled employees by industry | |||||||||||
| C — Manufacturing | 2,280,916 | 2,289,290 | 2,289,379 | 2,291,042 | 2,290,830 | 2,293,247 | 2,296,948 | 2,298,799 | 2,301,191 | 2,303,822 | |
| D — Energy production and supply | 124,035 | 124,059 | 123,822 | 123,665 | 123,221 | 122,761 | 122,671 | 122,294 | 121,814 | 121,504 |
Understanding UK payrolled employees: manufacturing
Capturing the volume of individuals across the United Kingdom receiving remuneration from employers engaged in the transformation of materials into new products, this series defines the formal manufacturing workforce. The count encompasses assembly operatives, factory managers, and office personnel tied to production enterprises, excluding agency workers whose payroll administration sits with a separate employment agency rather than the manufacturing firm itself. Unlike retail or service sector metrics, this series reflects goods production and factory gate activity.
Interpreting these statistics requires vigilance regarding global supply chain disruptions and input shortages, which can trigger rapid shifts in factory staffing. Early estimates are subject to regular revisions as large manufacturing groups reconcile complex multi-site payrolls. Analysts should rely on twelve-month comparisons rather than month-to-month changes to filter out routine annual plant shutdown periods.
Frequently asked questions
- Where are outsourced agency factory workers counted in these industry breakdowns?
- Agency workers typically appear under administrative and support services rather than within the manufacturing sector itself.
- Do temporary factory closures for maintenance affect the monthly data?
- Routine summer or winter shutdown periods can introduce seasonal dips that are distinct from genuine structural employment trends.
- Are head office staff of manufacturing corporations included in this manufacturing total?
- Administrative staff are classified under the specific industry code assigned to the employing legal entity, which may group head offices separately.