Job vacancy rate
Data on the number of vacancies for every unemployed person in the UK from 2001 to 2022.
Summary main findings
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 2010 and 2012, at around 0.2 vacancies for every unemployed person.
By year
Visualisation for by year
Number of job vacancies for every unemployed 16 to 64 year old (UK, 2001 to 2022)
Data for by year
| Year | Job vacancy rate |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 0.91 |
| 2021 | 0.91 |
| 2020 | 0.34 |
| 2019 | 0.63 |
| 2018 | 0.63 |
| 2017 | 0.56 |
| 2016 | 0.48 |
| 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 |
Download for by year
For the full download file, see Download the data.
About the data
Data source(s)
Office for National Statistics, Vacancy Survey and Labour Force Survey
Time period
2001 to 2022
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 2023 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