The number of payrolled employees in the UK fell by 26,000 (0.1%) to 30.2 million in August 2026, following a revised decline of 19,000 in July. This was the seventh consecutive monthly drop and the steepest fall since November 2025. On an annual basis, employment was down by 145,000, or 0.5%.
By sector, wholesale and retail recorded the largest annual reduction in payroll employment, losing 76,000 jobs, while administrative and support services saw the biggest increase, adding 72,000 employees. At the NUTS3 regional level, Camden and the City of London posted a 2% decline in payrolled employees, in contrast to Causeway Coast and Glens, where the number of payrolled workers rose by 1.1%.
Median monthly pay rose by 3.5% year-on-year to £2,657. The construction sector registered the strongest wage growth, with median pay up 5.5%, whereas the education sector recorded a 0.4% decrease in median pay.
