Labor force — all countries

Labor force — United Kingdom

Labor force in the United Kingdom in 2025 — 35,409,108 people. Ranked 20 in the world out of 182. Since 1990, the indicator has risen by 22.6%.

2025 35.41M people +0.26% vs 2024
World rank 20of 182
Period maximum 35.41M people2025
Period minimum 28.32M people1994

Trend over time

1990–2025 · people

Labor force — United Kingdom, 1990–202528M30M32M34M36M19901994199820022006201020142018202220251990: 28,871,734 people1991: 28,727,933 people1992: 28,550,612 people1993: 28,345,122 people1994: 28,315,845 people1995: 28,319,114 people1996: 28,452,872 people1997: 28,627,262 people1998: 28,692,713 people1999: 28,984,316 people2000: 29,283,662 people2001: 29,309,697 people2002: 29,641,396 people2003: 29,861,693 people2004: 30,084,688 people2005: 30,476,257 people2006: 30,976,247 people2007: 31,187,174 people2008: 31,584,306 people2009: 31,740,291 people2010: 31,901,655 people2011: 32,145,413 people2012: 32,478,183 people2013: 32,691,144 people2014: 32,988,066 people2015: 33,272,035 people2016: 33,593,959 people2017: 33,750,454 people2018: 34,015,275 people2019: 34,205,897 people2020: 34,258,263 people2021: 34,105,361 people2022: 34,488,684 people2023: 34,982,684 people2024: 35,317,772 people2025: 35,409,108 people
Change over the period: +6.54M (+22.64%) Average annual rate: 0.58 %

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Kingdom

United Kingdom 35.41M people
World 3.74B people
Europe & Central Asia 429M people
Northern Europe computed 56.88M people
High-income countries computed 716M people
Labor force — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year people Change Change, %
2025 35.41M +91,336 +0.26%
2024 35.32M +335,088 +0.96%
2023 34.98M +494,000 +1.43%
2022 34.49M +383,323 +1.12%
2021 34.11M −152,902 −0.45%
2020 34.26M +52,366 +0.15%
2019 34.21M +190,622 +0.56%
2018 34.02M +264,821 +0.78%
2017 33.75M +156,495 +0.47%
2016 33.59M +321,924 +0.97%
2015 33.27M +283,969 +0.86%
2014 32.99M +296,922 +0.91%
2013 32.69M +212,961 +0.66%
2012 32.48M +332,770 +1.04%
2011 32.15M +243,758 +0.76%
2010 31.9M +161,364 +0.51%
2009 31.74M +155,985 +0.49%
2008 31.58M +397,132 +1.27%
2007 31.19M +210,927 +0.68%
2006 30.98M +499,990 +1.64%
2005 30.48M +391,569 +1.3%
2004 30.08M +222,995 +0.75%
2003 29.86M +220,297 +0.74%
2002 29.64M +331,699 +1.13%
2001 29.31M +26,035 +0.09%
2000 29.28M +299,346 +1.03%
1999 28.98M +291,603 +1.02%
1998 28.69M +65,451 +0.23%
1997 28.63M +174,390 +0.61%
1996 28.45M +133,758 +0.47%
1995 28.32M +3,269 +0.01%
1994 28.32M −29,277 −0.1%
1993 28.35M −205,490 −0.72%
1992 28.55M −177,321 −0.62%
1991 28.73M −143,801 −0.5%
1990 28.87M

About the indicator

The economically active population — everyone aged 15 and over who either works or actively looks for work. It covers the employed, the unemployed and first-time job seekers; it leaves out students, homemakers and other people who do not offer their labor on the market. The size of the labor force is the basic constraint on the growth potential of an economy.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.