UK workforce jobs: manufacturing
UK workforce jobs: manufacturing stood at 2,460 thousands in Q2 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Jobs by industry and sector table (Value · Quarterly), with a complete series running from Q2 1978 to Q2 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Jobs by industry and sector table
| Indicator | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workforce jobs by industry | |||||||||||
| C Manufacturing | 2,460 | 2,478 | 2,519 | 2,509 | 2,524 | 2,563 | 2,576 | 2,557 | 2,555 | 2,567 | |
| I Accommodation and food services | 2,616 | 2,618 | 2,625 | 2,615 | 2,629 | 2,591 | 2,618 | 2,628 | 2,616 | 2,634 |
Understanding UK workforce jobs: manufacturing
This series measures all employee positions and self-employed roles engaged in the physical or chemical transformation of materials, substances, or components into new products across the United Kingdom. It covers food processing, machinery production, vehicle assembly, chemical manufacturing, and textiles. Construction, wholesale distribution, and extractive utility industries are excluded from this factory-floor total.
When evaluating manufacturing employment, analysts must account for traditional factory shutdown periods and summer maintenance breaks that introduce regular seasonal troughs. Revisions to early estimates can be substantial as industrial survey returns are audited and corrected for late respondents. A major pitfall is treating this job count as a direct proxy for manufacturing output, as productivity gains and automation allow output to rise while employment falls.
Frequently asked questions
- Are food and drink processing plants included in manufacturing?
- Yes, the production of food products, beverages, and tobacco goods is classified within this industrial sector.
- How do factory shutdown periods affect quarterly data?
- Scheduled summer and winter maintenance breaks can lower job counts or hours worked in specific quarters.
- Does this series capture factory administrative staff?
- Yes, office and management personnel based at manufacturing sites are included alongside production line workers.