UK vacancies per 100 employee jobs, all industries
UK vacancies per 100 employee jobs, all industries stood at 2.2 ratio 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 May 2001 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claimant count and vacancies | |||||||||||
| Vacancies per 100 employee jobs, all industries | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | |
| Unemployed people per vacancy | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Understanding UK vacancies per 100 employee jobs, all industries
The ratio of total live job openings relative to every hundred active employee jobs across the United Kingdom evaluates the overall intensity of labour demand within the economy. This metric scales raw vacancy numbers against the total employee job base, encompassing both filled positions and unfilled openings across all commercial and public sectors. Self-employed roles and HM Forces are excluded from the denominator to maintain a consistent comparison against standard payroll employment structures.
Reading this indicator requires recognising that employment totals and vacancy counts derive from different primary sources, introducing potential mismatches during periods of rapid economic transition. Seasonal hiring spikes regularly influence the ratio, making twelve-month comparisons preferable to month-on-month fluctuations for identifying underlying trends. Revisions to both underlying series can shift historical ratios, so analysts should consult final vintage data when assessing long-term structural tightness.
Frequently asked questions
- What does an increasing ratio indicate about the labour market?
- A rising ratio shows that employers are expanding recruitment relative to the existing base of filled employee jobs.
- Are self-employed individuals included in the job base denominator?
- No, the denominator strictly counts employee jobs, omitting self-employment and military personnel.
- Why compare vacancies against employee jobs rather than total population?
- This approach directly measures employer demand intensity relative to active workplace positions rather than demographic size.