Who’s doing all the work?
As a recruiter and jobs board owner, I thought looking at who is currently doing all the work in the UK would be interesting.
Currently, the UK has:
- 67.3 million total population.
- 28.5 million people employed
- 4.3 million self-employed – the second highest % in Europe after Italy.
- 8.6 million – economically inactive – this number has risen 600,000 since the pandemic began.
Who’s not working?
There are many reasons why people are economically inactive. Still, after stripping out those unable to work, the government feels a significant pool could contribute to the UK’s economic growth. Whether it is a carrot or stick approach or a combination of both, there is likely to be pressure to get more of these people into paid employment.
Which are the UK’s largest employers
The NHS is something we all cherish. Although it always seems to be stretched to the limits, when we need it, the NHS is there for us with health advice, ongoing care or emergency response. So it is not surprising that the NHS is the UK’s biggest employer – by a long way. And they are always looking for more staff.
- England 1,400,000
- Scotland 160,000
- Wales 72,000
- The total is 1,632,000, or 6% of the UK’s working population.
Armed Forces & Public Sector
The number in our armed forces is currently c.152,400. This is about 50% of the number in 1985.
Army 85,000 | RAF – 33,000 | Navy 33,000
The largest government department is the Department of Work & Pensions, with 111,000 employees.
I am sure there is a joke somewhere about the department for work employing the most people!
The Private Sector
The private sector makes up the majority of the UK workforce, and it is companies of all shapes and sizes, building, making and servicing everything we want and do.
The number of people working in the private sector has been growing steadily since 1999 when it was 21.6 million (80% of the workforce), and now 27 million (82%). A strong, growing, diverse private sector is essential for economic stability and development. Private-sector employment is market-driven in terms of the wages and benefits offered to attract people with the required skills and experience.
Our largest private sector employer is the supermarket group Tesco, with 350,000 employees, but most people work in small or micro companies. These are the basis of the UK economy.
The Local Scene
In my own county of Kent, there were 755,000 economically active people, with 12.5% being self-employed.
Are we ready for the Future of Work?
We have a substantial public sector but a much more significant private sector, creating growth and economic prosperity. The UK also supports a vibrant number of self-employed people. The world of work continues to adapt to technological and social changes, but the UK benefits from having a varied employment makeup, and I feel this gives us a strong position for the future.
The figures used have come from various sources, are subject to interpretation and provide a flavour of the employment situation rather than accurate analysis.
05/12/23 | Tony Line | Kent Recruitment Bureau | The JobsBoard.
