UK private sector share of employment
UK private sector share of employment stood at 82% 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 Q1 1999 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private sector share of all employment | 82 | 82 | 82 | 81.9 | 82 | 81.9 | 81.9 | 81.9 | 81.9 | 81.7 | |
| Output per worker, whole economy (2023=100) | 100.1 | 99.9 | 100 | 99.9 | 100.4 | 100.2 | 100 | 100.7 | 100.5 | ||
| Output per worker, annual change | -0.2 | -0.3 | 0 | -0.8 | -0.1 | 0.6 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
Understanding UK private sector share of employment
Calculating the relative weight of commerce outside state control, this metric expresses the proportion of total employment in the United Kingdom accounted for by commercial enterprises, limited companies, partnerships, and non-state entities. By dividing non-governmental positions by the aggregate sum of all workplace roles across the United Kingdom, the series isolates the balance between commercial employers and government bodies. Unlike absolute headcount measures that reflect raw hiring volumes, this proportion highlights structural shifts in where individuals work. It includes both full-time and part-time employee roles alongside self-employed positions based in the United Kingdom, while excluding unpaid volunteers and armed forces personnel stationed overseas.
Interpreting this percentage requires caution regarding structural breaks caused by public sector outsourcing, where staff transfers shift large numbers of roles between categories without altering total employment. Quarterly estimates are subject to regular revisions as survey responses arrive late from corporate contributors. When analysing shifts, period-on-period comparisons can mislead due to seasonal recruitment patterns in retail and hospitality, making twelve-month comparisons more reliable for identifying underlying structural changes. Analysts should note that changes in this proportion do not automatically indicate economic expansion or contraction, as a falling ratio can occur simply because government hiring outpaces commercial growth.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the private sector share of employment measure?
- It measures the percentage of all UK workplace roles that exist outside of state ownership and public administration.
- Why does outsourcing affect this series?
- When the state contracts out services previously run directly, workers move between sectors, shifting the ratio without changing total employment.
- Are self-employed individuals included in this proportion?
- Yes, independent workers who operate outside the public sector are counted within the commercial total.