Job vacancy rate

Published: 18 December 2025
see all updates

Data on the number of vacancies for every unemployed person in the UK from 2001 to 2024.

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

Summary main findings

The estimated number of vacancies for every jobseeker went down from 0.7 in 2023 to 0.5 in 2024.

There were more vacancies for every jobseeker in 2021 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 2024)

Data

Number of job vacancies for every unemployed 16 to 64 year old (UK, 2001 to 2024)
Year Vacancy rate
2024 0.52
2023 0.69
2022 0.84
2021 0.87
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 0.18
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, 284B)

    • 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 2024

    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.

    These findings are different from those in last year’s report. This is because the previous figures have been revised.

    Type of data

    Survey data

    Full report

    Read more in State of the Nation 2025 on GOV.UK.

    Download the data

    Download full dataset (CSV, 3KB)

    This file contains the following variables:

    • Measure code
    • Measure title
    • Chart type
    • Area code
    • Area type
    • Area name
    • Primary split type
    • Primary split value
    • Time period
    • Value
    • Unit

    Page history

    Publication release date:

    18 December 2025

    Editions of this page:

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