Estimates for payrolled employees in the UK fell by 85,000 (0.3%) between May 2025 and May 2026. However, it was largely unchanged on the month, increasing by 3,000 (0.0%) between April and May 2026. This is based on administrative data from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). When looking at March to May 2026, the period comparable with our Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates, the number of payrolled employees fell by 90,000 (0.3%) over the year and by 30,000 (0.1%) over the quarter. The early estimate of payrolled employees for June 2026 decreased by 71,000 (0.2%) on the year, but was largely unchanged on the month, ... (full story)