UK business register and employment survey (BRES): provisional results 2017, revised results 2016

Employment and labour market

UK business register and employment survey (BRES): provisional results 2017, revised results 2016

The number of employees in the UK increased by 352,800 (1.2%) between 2016 and 2017, from 30.0 million to 30.3 million.

 Between 2016 and 2017, the total number of employees increased in all regions except the South East, which decreased by 44,200 (1.1%) and Wales, which decreased by 14,300 (1.1%); London again showed the greatest increase in terms of the total number of employees, with 115,100 (2.3%).

 In percentage terms, the strongest growth was in the West Midlands, up 2.9% (73,100), and the North East, up 2.6% (27,200). 

 Between 2016 and 2017, the largest increase in employees by broad industrial grouping has been in the construction industry (up 77,700, or 5.6%), closely followed by business administration and support services (up 72,300, or 2.7%).

 Between 2016 and 2017, in the UK, the total number of employees decreased for the following industries: professional, scientific and technical (down 45,800, or 1.8%); wholesale (down 25,600, or 2.2%); transport and storage including postal (down 26,000, or 1.8%); motor trades (down 13,300, or 2.5%); and finance and insurance (down 5,100, or 0.5%).

 Between 2016 and 2017, for Great Britain, the number of private sector employees increased by 315,300; the number of public sector employees increased by 20,500.