Vulnerable employment — all countries

Vulnerable employment — United Kingdom

Vulnerable employment in the United Kingdom in 2025 — 11.53%. Ranked 45 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has risen by 0.2 pp.

2025 11.53% −0.08 pp vs 2024
World rank 45of 182
Period maximum 13.03%2018
Period minimum 9.61%2001

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of employment

Vulnerable employment — United Kingdom, 1991–20259101112131419911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 11.33%1992: 11.09%1993: 10.94%1994: 11.15%1995: 11.08%1996: 10.67%1997: 10.48%1998: 10.03%1999: 10.05%2000: 9.69%2001: 9.61%2002: 9.64%2003: 10.1%2004: 10.18%2005: 10.05%2006: 10.29%2007: 10.49%2008: 10.53%2009: 10.82%2010: 11.36%2011: 11.67%2012: 12.13%2013: 11.98%2014: 12.71%2015: 12.54%2016: 12.87%2017: 12.97%2018: 13.03%2019: 12.87%2020: 12.49%2021: 11.79%2022: 11.75%2023: 11.86%2024: 11.61%2025: 11.53%
Change over the period: +0.2 pp Annual average: 0.01 pp

Comparison, 2025

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

United Kingdom 11.53%
World 42.38%
Northern Europe computed 9.94%
High-income countries computed 7.92%
Vulnerable employment — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 11.53 −0.08 pp
2024 11.61 −0.25 pp
2023 11.86 +0.11 pp
2022 11.75 −0.04 pp
2021 11.79 −0.7 pp
2020 12.49 −0.37 pp
2019 12.87 −0.17 pp
2018 13.03 +0.06 pp
2017 12.97 +0.1 pp
2016 12.87 +0.32 pp
2015 12.54 −0.16 pp
2014 12.71 +0.73 pp
2013 11.98 −0.15 pp
2012 12.13 +0.47 pp
2011 11.67 +0.31 pp
2010 11.36 +0.53 pp
2009 10.82 +0.3 pp
2008 10.53 +0.03 pp
2007 10.49 +0.21 pp
2006 10.29 +0.24 pp
2005 10.05 −0.13 pp
2004 10.18 +0.08 pp
2003 10.1 +0.46 pp
2002 9.64 +0.03 pp
2001 9.61 −0.09 pp
2000 9.69 −0.36 pp
1999 10.05 +0.02 pp
1998 10.03 −0.44 pp
1997 10.48 −0.2 pp
1996 10.67 −0.4 pp
1995 11.08 −0.07 pp
1994 11.15 +0.21 pp
1993 10.94 −0.15 pp
1992 11.09 −0.24 pp
1991 11.33

About the indicator

The share of own-account workers and contributing family workers in total employment. The ILO devised the category as a substitute for informal employment where informality is not measured: such workers usually have no employment contract, no social insurance and no protection against dismissal, and their income depends directly on what they produce. In the poorest countries this share exceeds three quarters of the employed — wage work there is closer to an exception.

Important: Not the same as informal employment: an employee without a contract does not fall into this category, though they are no better protected. The indicator understates informality in countries where off-the-books hiring is widespread.

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