As of April 2025, 18 percent of UK businesses were aiming to cut their staffing levels, with 30 percent of retail firms intending to reduce their staffing levels. By contrast, almost half of information and communication companies were looking to increase their staff, with just seven percent planning cuts.
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Employment intentions of businesses in the UK in 2025, by industry
Characteristic
Decrease total staff level
Maintain total staff level
Increase total staff level
Don't know
Overall
18%
52%
25%
5%
Retail
30%
55%
11%
4%
Non-compulsory education
27%
46%
20%
7%
Public administration and other public sector
24%
42%
28%
5%
Wholesale and real estate
24%
51%
20%
6%
Compulsory education (including pre-primary)
23%
65%
9%
3%
Primary and utilities*
23%
50%
27%
1%
Human health activities
21%
47%
23%
9%
Hotels, catering and restaurants
20%
46%
28%
5%
Manufacturing
19%
54%
22%
4%
Voluntary
19%
58%
20%
3%
Administrative and support service activities and other service activities
17%
53%
24%
6%
Finance and insurance
15%
44%
34%
7%
Transport and storage
13%
43%
36%
7%
Legal, accounting, consultancy and activities of head offices
10%
46%
39%
5%
Other professional, scientific and technical activities
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CIPD. (May 11, 2025). Employment intentions of businesses in the UK in 2025, by industry [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 06, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1615800/uk-business-employment-intentions-by-industry/
CIPD. "Employment intentions of businesses in the UK in 2025, by industry." Chart. May 11, 2025. Statista. Accessed July 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1615800/uk-business-employment-intentions-by-industry/
CIPD. (2025). Employment intentions of businesses in the UK in 2025, by industry. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 06, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1615800/uk-business-employment-intentions-by-industry/
CIPD. "Employment Intentions of Businesses in The Uk in 2025, by Industry." Statista, Statista Inc., 11 May 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1615800/uk-business-employment-intentions-by-industry/
CIPD, Employment intentions of businesses in the UK in 2025, by industry Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1615800/uk-business-employment-intentions-by-industry/ (last visited July 06, 2025)
Employment intentions of businesses in the UK in 2025, by industry [Graph], CIPD, May 11, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1615800/uk-business-employment-intentions-by-industry/
