UK workforce jobs: education
UK workforce jobs: education stood at 3,127 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 | |||||||||||
| P Education | 3,127 | 3,137 | 3,101 | 3,122 | 3,113 | 3,118 | 3,054 | 3,075 | 3,069 | 3,076 | |
| M Professional, scientific and technical | 3,504 | 3,476 | 3,448 | 3,454 | 3,453 | 3,469 | 3,484 | 3,503 | 3,481 | 3,467 |
Understanding UK workforce jobs: education
This series tallies employee positions and self-employed roles situated within educational institutions throughout the United Kingdom. It covers jobs across primary schools, secondary academies, universities, higher education colleges, driving schools, and educational support services. Both public and private institutions are captured, encompassing teaching staff, administrative personnel, and ancillary workers located within the geographical scope of the United Kingdom. The measure excludes vocational training that occurs strictly as part of a separate industrial classification, distinguishing general schooling and higher education from workplace-specific instruction.
Interpreting educational employment requires awareness of academic term cycles, which introduce distinct hiring patterns around the start of new school years. Early estimates for the sector are routinely revised as returns from local authorities and private academies are finalised. Comparing figures across adjacent quarters can be misleading due to seasonal contract renewals and summer breaks, making twelve-month comparisons the preferred method for assessing underlying trends. Analysts comparing this series with health or public administration should remember that education combines state-funded institutions with fee-paying independent schools and private training providers.
Frequently asked questions
- Which types of schools and colleges are covered?
- Primary schools, secondary academies, universities, and private educational support services are all included.
- Are administrative staff counted alongside teachers?
- Yes, all staff employed within educational establishments, including support and administrative personnel, are tallied.
- Why are quarter-on-quarter changes in education difficult to interpret?
- Academic hiring schedules and term-time contracts create seasonal fluctuations that obscure underlying workforce trends.