United Kingdom employment rate: aged 16 to 64
United Kingdom employment rate: aged 16 to 64 stood at 75.4% in Mar 2026, according to Nomis — official labour market statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Labour market structure table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Dec 2004 to Mar 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market structure table
| Indicator | 03-2026 | 12-2025 | 09-2025 | 06-2025 | 03-2025 | 12-2024 | 09-2024 | 06-2024 | 03-2024 | 12-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment rate, aged 16 to 64 | |||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 75.4 | 75.5 | 75.5 | 75.4 | 75.4 | 75.3 | 75.3 | 75.3 | 75.4 | 75.7 | |
| North East | 71.8 | 70.8 | 70.3 | 70.3 | 70.7 | 70.5 | 70.8 | 70.9 | 71.3 | 72.8 |
Understanding united Kingdom employment rate: aged 16 to 64
This indicator tracks the proportion of individuals within the United Kingdom aged sixteen to sixty-four who perform any paid work, whether as employees, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers, or participants in government-supported training programmes. Unlike measures focusing solely on claimant counts or administrative welfare records, this household survey metric captures total job attachment regardless of hours worked or contract status. The denominator strictly comprises the civilian non-institutional population within the specified age brackets, excluding residents of communal establishments such as halls of residence or prisons.
Interpreting this statistic requires caution regarding sampling variability inherent in household surveys, particularly when analysing short-term movements. Analysts should evaluate period-on-period changes alongside confidence intervals rather than relying on single-period shifts, while year-on-year comparisons help smooth out regular seasonal patterns. Revisions frequently occur when population weights are recalibrated against updated demographic projections. Observers must also distinguish this metric from employment level figures, as rates account for shifts in the underlying population denominator alongside absolute job creation.
Frequently asked questions
- What exact age boundaries define the working-age denominator for this indicator?
- The denominator includes all civilian residents from their sixteenth birthday up to the day before their sixty-fifth birthday.
- Does this series include individuals serving in the armed forces stationed abroad?
- No, military personnel stationed outside the country are excluded, though domestic armed forces members residing in private households are captured.
- Why might this rate fluctuate while the total number of jobs remains unchanged?
- Shifts in the size of the total resident population aged sixteen to sixty-four will alter the percentage even if the absolute count of working individuals stays constant.