Job vacancy rate

Published: 11 September 2024
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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
  • Download the data (CSV, 412B)

    • Download

    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 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:

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