Biggest Industries by Employment in United Kingdom in 2026

• 1. Supermarkets in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 1,098,917

  The Supermarkets industry has undergone something of a shift over the past decade – discounters Aldi and Lidl have penetrated the customer base of the traditional “Big Four” supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons), with their low prices and improving quality of products resonating with price-conscious shoppers. Over the five years through 2024-25, supermarkets' revenue is forecast to dip at a compound annual rate of 1.1% to £192.1 billion, though it's expected to inch up by 0.6%...

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• 2. Charities in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 981,325

  Industry revenue is expected to contract at a compound annual rate of 1.7% over the five years through 2024-25 to £61.8 billion. Industry growth has been constrained by falling funding from the EU because of Brexit, with the UK Shared Prospensity Fund not plugging enough of the whole. High-profile scandals have prevented major players from claiming government funding and reduced support from the public. In combination with public funding cuts, demand for social services has risen. Cuts to ove...

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• 3. Hospitals in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 903,588

  Hospital services are currently being stretched at the seams as they struggle to navigate financial constraints and workforce shortages while appointment waiting times remain high. Hospitals faced unrivalled pressure during the COVID-19 outbreak and this necessitated the release of significant government funding to help hospitals boost their capacity to treat afflicted patients. According to the King’s Fund, NHS funding rose from £148.9 billion in 2019-20 to £191 billion in 2020-21. Hospitals...

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• 4. Business Process Outsourcing Services in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 722,238

  Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies provide services to clients in all sectors of the economy, with the financial services and public sectors being particularly important markets. Expanding IT adoption and government expenditure have incentivised businesses to invest more heavily in IT systems and upgrades, supporting demand for BPO services. Industry revenue is expected to contract at a compound annual rate of 3% over the five years through 2024-25 to £73.4 billion, including estima...

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• 5. Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 715,972

  The Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies industry revenue is forecast to decline at a compound annual rate of 1%  to £56.7 billion over the five years through 2024-25. The COVID-19 outbreak meant key employers of temporary workers in the sports and music events spaces completely shut their doors and businesses froze hiring, reducing clients for agencies. Sign-ups for temporary employment declined, hitting revenue in 2020-21. Companies pressed play immediately on hiring as the economy reope...

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• 6. Direct Selling & Marketing in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 616,303

  The Direct Selling and Marketing industry markets itself through single-level marketing (SLM), where representatives earn money solely from commission; and multi-level marketing (MLM), where representatives earn commission from both their sales and those they have recruited. Despite widespread criticism and links to pyramid-selling schemes, MLM accounts for the majority of revenue.

  Industry revenue is expected to contract at a compound annual rate of 2.6% over the five years through 20...

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• 7. Construction Contractors in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 582,430

  Construction contractors are active across building construction and civil engineering markets. Despite being remunerated for completing new building and infrastructure construction contracts or fulfilling maintenance, repair, renovation and remodelling contract obligations, the spectrum of services offered by civils and general building contractors in this industry is multifaceted. Some contractors focus on new dwellings construction, while civil engineering specialists afford clients servic...

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• 8. Full-Service Restaurants in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 552,936

  Over the five years through 2024-25, full-service restaurant revenue is expected to edge downwards at a compound annual rate of 1.2%. It's no secret that the restaurant industry has struggled with the combination of staffing shortages, rampant inflation, rising food prices, and inventory bills post-pandemic. For many vulnerable businesses, rising cost pressures proved unsustainable, pushing some towards distress and an uptick in consolidation activity quickly followed. Meanwhile, as consumers...

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• 9. Universities in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 494,938

  Over the five years through 2024-25, the Universities industry's revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 2.1% to £56.5 billion. The increase in tuition fees to £9,250 in 2017-18 has been an important driver of revenue growth. However, with tuition fees frozen since then, inflation and particularly high inflation in the two years through 2023-24 has meant their real value has plummeted. The cap on undergraduate student numbers in the UK was lifted in 2020-21, leading to a rise...

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• 10. Pubs & Bars in the UK

  Employment number for 2026: 492,351

  Over the five years through 2024-25, Pubs & Bars revenue is expected to edge downwards at compound annual rate of 5.5%. It's no surprise falling alcohol consumption isn’t good news for pubs and bars have. Britons’ sharp focus on health and well-being means the number of individuals going teetotal or cutting down on alcohol is rising rapidly, forcing establishments to close or to adapt. Not all hope is lost; establishments fight back by introducing a more extensive low and no-alcohol-free ...

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