UK services output annual growth: households as employers
UK services output annual growth: households as employers stood at -3.4% in Jul 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Monthly GDP and output table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1998 to Jul 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Monthly GDP and output table
| Indicator | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Services output, growth on a year earlier | |||||||||||
| T — Households as employers of domestic personnel | -3.4 | -2.7 | -1.6 | -0.5 | 0.1 | 0.7 | -0.6 | -3.1 | -4.8 | -4.7 | |
| 45 — Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles | 2 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.6 | -0.2 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | -1 | -1.7 |
Understanding UK services output annual growth: households as employers
Private households employing domestic staff such as nannies, cooks, cleaners, and gardeners generate the activity measured for the United Kingdom. This metric captures the annual percentage change in real output derived from direct remuneration paid to household personnel. It stands apart from standard corporate service industries by focusing exclusively on employment relationships where the employer is an individual consumer rather than a registered enterprise.
Interpreting this specialised series requires recognising its vulnerability to small sample sizes and administrative data shifts. Revisions can appear when tax records or household surveys are updated to reflect changing employment patterns. Analysts must avoid drawing broad macroeconomic conclusions from this niche segment, as its movements rarely mirror corporate labour markets or wider industrial service trends.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is classified as an employer in this series?
- Private individuals who directly hire domestic workers like private cooks, cleaners, and gardeners are included.
- Why does this series show high volatility?
- The small underlying population of registered domestic employers makes the monthly index sensitive to individual changes in household staffing.
- Does this cover agency-supplied care workers?
- No, agency workers are allocated to employment and support services rather than direct household employment.