Biggest Industries by Employment in the UK in 2023

1. Supermarkets in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 1,182,882

Industry revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 0.5% over the five years through 2022-23 to reach £190.8 billion. Changing shopping habits, the aggressive expansion of discount supermarkets and increased external competition have influenced industry performance over the past five years. The largest operators have cut prices to attract greater loyalty from their customers. The Big Four's grip on the industry has weakened because of intense price competition on profit margins. Supply chains have also been disrupted due to a shortage of heavy goods vehicles drivers, which has inflated purchase costs. Nevertheless, supermarkets have been expanding... Learn More

2. Charities in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 889,447

Industry revenue is expected to contract at a compound annual rate of 4.2% over the five years through 2022-23 to £49 billion. Industry growth has been constrained by falling funding from the European Union following the EU referendum in June 2016. Furthermore, high-profile scandals have prevented major players from claiming government funding and reduced support from the public. In combination with public funding cuts, charitable organisations' surplus margins have fallen while demand for social services has risen. Cuts to overseas aid budgets, announced in November 2020, are likely to further constrain revenue over the two years through 2022-23.

In 2020-21, falling... Learn More

3. Hospitals in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 885,838

The Hospitals industry provides medical, diagnostic and treatment services at general and specialised hospitals. A growing and ageing population has increased demand, but public healthcare budgets have failed to keep pace with this, which has aided demand for private hospitals as a greater number of patients seek private treatment. Over the five years through 2022-23, industry revenue is expected to rise at a compound annual rate of 2.4% to reach £112.9 billion.

The outbreak of COVID-19 (the coronavirus) necessitated the release of significant government funding to help hospitals boost their capacities to treat afflicted patients. NHS funding rose from £148.9 billion... Learn More

4. Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 726,222

Temporary-Employment Placement Agencies' revenue is forecast to decline at a compound annual rate of 3.4% to £41.4 billion over the five years through 2022-23. 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 reopened in 2021-22 with record vacancies particularly in the service sector, boosting revenue for recruiters.

A tight labour market is encouraging employers to rely on temporary-employment placement agencies to fight... Learn More

5. General Secondary Education in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 698,029

Following significant government support, 80% of secondary schools are now academies, with maintained schools increasingly converting. Both types remain under strict government guidelines, but academies can decide term dates, curriculums, subject choices and budget decisions. Despite several years of economic turmoil, government funding has remained strong because of the importance of maintaining and improving UK education standards.

Secondary education revenue is expected to have grown at a compound annual rate of 2.2% to £54.5 billion over the five years through 2022-23, dipping by 2.1% in 2022-23. The COVID-19 outbreak severely disrupted the day-to-day running of schools throughout 2020-21, with temporary closures... Learn More

6. Direct Selling & Marketing in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 630,732

The Direct Selling and Marketing industry provides services to consumers away from a fixed retailing location and exclusively through personal contact. The industry markets and retails a wide variety of products, such as cosmetics, wellness products and clothing. The sale of fuel and food for immediate consumption does not fall under this industry. The industry markets itself through two methods: 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 that they have recruited. MLM is expected to account for over three-quarters of industry revenue in... Learn More

7. Construction Contractors in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 521,756

Operators in the Construction Contractors industry are active across the building construction and civil engineering markets. Despite operators 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 services across the infrastructure value chain. Moreover, some contractors specialise in commercial building activity, while many independent contractors may focus on small-scale maintenance contracts in local markets.

Over the two years through 2019-20, revenue grew,... Learn More

8. Full-Service Restaurants in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 506,867

Industry revenue is forecast to fall at a compound annual rate of 5.1% over the five years through 2022-23 to £19.9 billion. Revenue contracted by 54.5% in 2020-21, caused by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and the industry recorded a slow recovery over the two years through 2022-23. Nonetheless, prior to the pandemic, revenue declined by 3.6% in 2019-20, caused by cost increases and weak consumer demand following the UK's vote to leave the European Union.

In addition, changing consumer tastes have shaped the industry over the past five years. A rising number of consumers prefer dining experiences over traditional restaurants. The... Learn More

9. Universities in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 479,579

Over the five years through 2022-23, the Universities industry's revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.3% to £47 billion. This expansion can be attributed to an increase in student numbers, rising tuition fees and growing investment returns over much of the period. 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 2012, record inflation throughout 2022 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 in... Learn More

10. Takeaway & Fast-Food Restaurants in the UK

Employment number for 2023: 448,407

A growing number of busy on-the-go consumers is maintaining healthy revenue levels among takeaway and fast-food operators. Britons' growing health and sustainability awareness is presenting a significant opportunity for takeaway and fast-food businesses to introduce more expensive organic and meat-free menu items. Industry revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 0.5% over the five years through 2022-23 to £21.6 billion, including forecast growth of 0.9% in 2022-23.

A weak spending environment, combined with operating challenges during the pandemic, is casting a shadow over industry performance. Although stay-at-home restrictions resulted in a spike in online ordering volumes, takeaway... Learn More