UK small business hiring Edge up as Job vacancies climb
The latest Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Index shows UK small business employment continued to grow in June, with payrolls increasing for the second consecutive month. While overall job growth remained modest, hiring gains were spread more evenly across sectors and regions than in recent months, suggesting resilience among the UK’s smallest employers.
The Index, based on anonymised payroll data from over 26,000 UK small businesses with one to nine employees, also shows demand for workers strengthened in June, with job vacancies rising by more than 4,000.
The latest data shows:
- A net increase of 1,400 jobs across UK small businesses in June, taking total employment to 4,155,600.
- Employment increased in 7 of the 13 sectors tracked.
- Education recorded the fastest employment growth (+2.02%), adding 1,300 jobs.
- Professional services added the largest number of jobs, with 6,100 new roles (+1.13%).
- Construction saw the largest employment decline (-5,000 jobs), while administrative and support services experienced the fastest rate of decline (-0.98%).
- Small business job vacancies increased by 4,200 (+4.12%) to 104,500 open positions, signalling continued demand for workers.
- Employment increased in two of the UK’s four nations, with Northern Ireland recording the fastest growth rate (+1.36%) and England adding the largest number of jobs (+4,200).
The latest figures suggest the UK’s smallest businesses continue to hire despite an uncertain economic backdrop. While employment growth remains measured, the increase in vacancies points to sustained demand for talent, with hiring activity becoming more broadly distributed across sectors and regions than in previous months.
Simon Worsfold, In-house Economist at Intuit, said:
“While hiring remains measured, it’s encouraging to see small businesses continue to create jobs for a second consecutive month. The rise in vacancies shows that many are still looking to invest in their workforce despite ongoing economic uncertainty. Small businesses remain remarkably resilient, adapting to changing conditions while continuing to support local economies and create opportunities across the UK.”
Ricardo Medina, CEO and Co-Founder at Definite Article, said:
“It’s great to see professional services leading the way in job creation, despite continued economic uncertainty. For firms like ours, investing in people remains one of the most important drivers of growth and client success. While businesses are still navigating a challenging environment, these figures show that many are continuing to hire where opportunities exist. The resilience and adaptability of the UK’s professional services sector continue to be one of its greatest strengths.”
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