UK workforce jobs: wholesale and retail trade
UK workforce jobs: wholesale and retail trade stood at 4,597 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 | |||||||||||
| G Wholesale and retail trade | 4,597 | 4,616 | 4,645 | 4,630 | 4,657 | 4,715 | 4,713 | 4,722 | 4,751 | 4,761 | |
| P Education | 3,127 | 3,137 | 3,101 | 3,122 | 3,113 | 3,118 | 3,054 | 3,075 | 3,069 | 3,076 |
Understanding UK workforce jobs: wholesale and retail trade
Counting every employee role and self-employed position situated within wholesale and retail trade across the United Kingdom, this series tracks the volume of labour dedicated to the buying, selling, and distribution of goods. It encompasses positions involved in operating shops, supermarkets, wholesale warehouses, and online retail platforms, alongside motor vehicle repair trades. The measure aggregates both full-time and part-time contracts located within the geographical boundaries of the United Kingdom, excluding activities classified under transport, storage, or manufacturing. Unlike broad employment aggregates, this metric isolates the commercial distribution network that connects producers to final consumers.
When reading these figures, analysts must account for pronounced seasonal spikes driven by pre-Christmas shopping and subsequent post-holiday contractions. Early estimates of retail employment frequently undergo revisions as administrative tax records replace initial survey responses. Period-on-period comparisons often distort underlying momentum due to this heavy seasonality, meaning analysts should rely on matching-quarter comparisons from previous years. A common pitfall is assuming that rising job counts in this category reflect higher retail sales values, as productivity gains or price inflation can cause turnover and headcounts to move in opposite directions.
Frequently asked questions
- What types of businesses are included in this wholesale and retail trade series?
- It covers supermarkets, high street shops, online merchants, wholesale warehouses, and vehicle repair garages.
- How does seasonality affect retail employment data?
- Staff numbers surge ahead of December and drop sharply in January, creating predictable quarterly swings that require caution when analysing trends.
- Does this count include self-employed shopkeepers?
- Yes, both employee jobs and self-employed positions within the trade sector are included.