Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics shows that the number of temporary employees in the UK fell by approximately 29,000 in the April-June 2023, compared to the January-March 2023 period. Total employment fell by 66,000 jobs to 32.9 million during the same period, and the UK’s unemployment rate edged up to 4.2% from 3.9%.
In terms of temporary employees in the UK, the total was more than 1.6 million in April-June 2023. In addition, temporary employees as a percentage of all employees was 5.7% in April-June 2023, down from 5.8% in the January-March quarter.
The ONS analysis also asked people why they are working as temps, and found the following:
- 445,000 didn’t want a permanent job;
- 350,000 said they couldn’t find a permanent job;
- 172,000 had a contract with a period of waiting;
- 656,000 cited some other reason.
The statistics also show a decline in job vacancies in the last quarter, but pay rose at its highest rate since 2021.
