FX.co ★ UK Payroll Employment Falls 32K in October

In October 2025, the United Kingdom experienced a reduction in the number of payrolled employees by 32,000, or 0.1%, bringing the total to 30.3 million. This followed a similarly revised decrease observed in September. When compared to the same period in the previous year, payrolled employment decreased by 0.6%, equivalent to a loss of 180,000 jobs. The public administration and defence sector witnessed the most significant growth, adding 16,000 employees, while the wholesale and retail sector faced the largest reduction, losing 71,000 employees. On a regional basis, Westminster experienced the most substantial decline with a 3.3% drop, whereas Mid Ulster saw the highest growth, at 1.7%. Simultaneously, the median monthly pay increased by 3.1% year-on-year, reaching £2,538. The public administration and defence sector reported the most substantial rise in wages, at 6.5%, while the health and social work sector saw the biggest decline, with a drop of 1.9%.