Job vacancy rate

Published: 11 September 2024
see all updates

Data on the number of vacancies for every unemployed person in the UK from 2001 to 2023.

  1. Summary main findings
  2. By year
  3. About the data
  4. Download the data

Summary main findings

The estimated number of vacancies per jobseeker fell from 0.9 in 2022 to 0.7 in 2023.

There were more vacancies for every jobseeker in 2021 and 2022 than at any time in the previous 20 years, at around 0.9 vacancies for every unemployed person.

The job vacancy rate was at its lowest between 2009 and 2012, at around 0.2 vacancies for every unemployed person.

By year

Visualisation

Number of job vacancies for every unemployed 16 to 64 year old (UK, 2001 to 2023)

Data

Number of job vacancies for every unemployed 16 to 64 year old (UK, 2001 to 2023)
Year Vacancy rate
2023 0.71
2022 0.87
2021 0.87
2020 0.33
2019 0.61
2018 0.61
2017 0.55
2016 0.47
2015 0.44
2014 0.38
2013 0.24
2012 0.20
2011 0.17
2010 0.19
2009 0.19
2008 0.26
2007 0.43
2006 0.36
2005 0.39
2004 0.47
2003 0.42
2002 0.40
2001 0.40

Show 3 more rows

Download

About the data

Data source(s)

Office for National Statistics, Vacancy Survey and Labour Force Survey

Time period

2001 to 2023

Geographic area

UK

What the data measures

The data shows the number of vacancies for every unemployed person in the UK. A higher value indicates greater opportunities for job seekers.

The vacancy rate is based on:

  • the number of unemployed people aged 16 to 64
  • the number of vacancies

All estimates are based on data for October to December each year.

Rates are rounded to 1 decimal place.

Things you need to know

Figures are seasonally adjusted to account for variations during the year. Read more about seasonal adjustment from ONS.

Type of data

Survey data

Full report

Read more in State of the Nation 2024 on GOV.UK.

Download the data

Download full dataset (CSV, 3KB)

This file contains the following variables:

  • Indicator code
  • Indicator name
  • Area type
  • Area code
  • Area name
  • Time period
  • Sex
  • Value
  • Unit
  • Value note

Page history

Publication release date:

11 September 2024

Editions of this page:

This is a new website - your feedback will help us to improve it.