UK employment: men aged 16+
UK employment: men aged 16+ stood at 17,745 thousands in Jun 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Labour market table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Feb 1971 to Jun 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market table
| Indicator | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | 09-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment and unemployment | |||||||||||
| Men in employment (16+) | 17,745 | 17,726 | 17,752 | 17,735 | 17,662 | 17,601 | 17,579 | 17,546 | 17,562 | 17,539 | |
| Women in employment (16+) | 16,733 | 16,744 | 16,724 | 16,676 | 16,724 | 16,727 | 16,733 | 16,708 | 16,749 | 16,682 |
Understanding UK employment: men aged 16+
Tracking the total volume of male residents aged 16 and over across the United Kingdom who are in paid employment, this series provides an absolute head count of working men. Distinct from percentage rates and female employment figures, this metric isolates the male workforce across all industrial sectors, including both full-time and part-time positions. The count encompasses employees on company payrolls, self-employed contractors, and individuals temporarily absent from their jobs due to holiday or short-term illness, while leaving out those without paid work.
Evaluating this head count necessitates accounting for seasonal variations in industries with high concentrations of male workers, such as manufacturing and construction. Early monthly estimates frequently undergo revision when benchmarked against updated population totals. Analysts should avoid equating a rising employment count with economic well-being without verifying whether the new roles are full-time or part-time. A common pitfall is comparing this figure directly to the male claimant count without recognising the differing definitions used by survey versus administrative data sources.
Frequently asked questions
- What categories of male workers are included in this head count?
- Both employees receiving a wage and self-employed males aged 16 and over are captured within this total.
- How does this series account for men working multiple jobs?
- Individuals are counted only once according to their main job to prevent double-counting in national employment totals.
- Are men on temporary leave counted as employed?
- Yes, those temporarily away from work due to sickness or vacation remain counted as long as they retain their job.