UK workforce jobs: transport and storage
UK workforce jobs: transport and storage stood at 1,924 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 | |||||||||||
| H Transport and storage | 1,924 | 1,914 | 1,897 | 1,905 | 1,904 | 1,911 | 1,919 | 1,898 | 1,896 | 1,906 | |
| K Financial and insurance activities | 1,124 | 1,112 | 1,100 | 1,110 | 1,139 | 1,141 | 1,176 | 1,151 | 1,147 | 1,143 |
Understanding UK workforce jobs: transport and storage
This series measures all employee positions and self-employed roles engaged in the physical movement and warehousing of goods and passengers across the United Kingdom. It covers freight transport by road, rail, air, and water, alongside postal services, courier activities, and storage warehouse operations located within the geographical scope of the United Kingdom. Passenger transport operations, including bus, coach, and taxi services, are also included. The count excludes wholesale trading operations and travel agency services that do not directly manage transport fleets or storage facilities.
When reading these figures, users must account for seasonal surges in logistics activity around the year-end festive period and holiday travel peaks. Early estimates of transport employment frequently undergo revisions as late returns from courier networks and haulage firms are processed. Period-on-period comparisons can be misleading due to these operational peaks, making twelve-month comparisons preferable for identifying sustained industry trends. Analysts should note that employment counts in transport can diverge from freight volume indicators, as automation in warehouses and shifts in vehicle sizes alter labour requirements per unit moved.
Frequently asked questions
- Does transport and storage include postal delivery workers?
- Yes, postal and courier services are included alongside freight haulage and passenger transport.
- How does holiday demand impact this data?
- Logistics and delivery firms hire temporary staff ahead of peak shopping periods, creating predictable quarterly variations.
- Are taxi drivers included in this category?
- Yes, land passenger transport covers urban transit, bus networks, and taxi operations.