Researchers as a share of the labour force in United Kingdom

Researchers made up 0.97% of the labour force in United Kingdom in 2019. The value for 2019 is the highest in the series, which starts in 1993. The source marks a break in the series within this span, so values before and after it may not be fully comparable.

Measure: Researchers as a share of the labour force Unit: % of labour force (full-time equivalent) Data: 1993 to 2019 Source: Eurostat
The latest value for United Kingdom is for 2019. Most countries have figures for 2024.
The latest value carries the source flag “Provisional”.
United Kingdom, 2019 0.97%p (Provisional) % of labour force (full-time equivalent)
Change from 2018 +0.03percentage points 2018: 0.94%
European Union, 2019 0.89%e (Estimated) Official aggregate
Median of OECD (38 countries), 2019 1.01% Middle value of 26 countries

Researchers as a share of the labour force in United Kingdom over time

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United Kingdom European Union ×

% of labour force (full-time equivalent). Source: Eurostat. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.

Researchers as a share of the labour force (% of labour force (full-time equivalent)), 2000 to 2024
Period United KingdomEuropean Union
2024 – 1.04%e (estimated)
2023 – 1.02%e (estimated)
2022 – 0.99%e (estimated)
2021 – 0.96%e (estimated)
2020 – 0.92%e (estimated)
2019 0.97%p (provisional) 0.89%e (estimated)
2018 0.94%e (estimated) 0.86%e (estimated)
2017 0.92%e (estimated) 0.83%
2016 0.90%e (estimated) 0.78%e (estimated)
2015 0.90% 0.76%e (estimated)
2014 0.88%e (estimated) 0.73%e (estimated)
2013 0.85% 0.72%e (estimated)
2012 0.82%e (estimated) 0.70%e (estimated)
2011 0.81% 0.68%e (estimated)
2010 0.84%e (estimated) 0.66%e (estimated)
2009 0.84%e (estimated) 0.64%e (estimated)
2008 0.82%e (estimated) 0.62%e (estimated)
2007 0.84%e (estimated) 0.59%e (estimated)
2006 0.85%e (estimated) 0.58%e (estimated)
2005 0.84%be (break in time series, estimated) 0.56%e (estimated)
2004 – 0.55%e (estimated)
2003 – 0.53%e (estimated)
2002 – 0.52%e (estimated)
2001 0.64%e (estimated) 0.51%e (estimated)
2000 0.60%e (estimated) 0.50%e (estimated)

Flags: e estimated; be break in time series, estimated; p provisional . A dash means no value was published.

In short

  • That is a change of +0.03 percentage points from 0.94% in 2018.
  • Since 2009, when it was 0.84%, the figure has changed by +0.13 percentage points.
  • The figure for the European Union in 2019 was 0.89%.

More for United Kingdom

All statistics for United Kingdom

Source and dates

Original producer
Eurostat
Source
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
Dataset or series code
rd_p_perslf · dataset details · view at source
Selection
freq=A prof_pos=RSE sectperf=TOTAL sex=T unit=PC_ACT_FTE
Observation period
1993 to 2019 for United Kingdom
Provider update
29 September 2026
Retrieved
9 November 2026
Published here
9 November 2026
Licence
Eurostat reuse policy (attribution)
Attribution
Source: Eurostat