Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Index, December 2024

Small business employment: up by 1,200 jobs

Employment at UK small businesses with one to nine employees increased by 1,200 jobs in November compared to October. These businesses now employ 4,288,200 people—a 0.03% increase month-over-month. See chart below.

The number of job vacancies at small businesses declined in November, with 800 fewer open positions compared to October—a monthly decline of 0.58%. This leaves 130,200 job vacancies at small businesses throughout the UK. See “job vacancies” tabs in the chart above.

By sector: small business employment increased in seven sectors

Small business employment in November increased in seven sectors tracked by the Index but decreased in the other six. The financial sector (SIC K) had the fastest monthly decrease, contracting by 0.19%, with100 fewer jobs. The manufacturing sector (SIC C) had the fastest increase, at 0.11%, with 300 additional jobs. 

In the table below, use the green buttons to see the number of jobs or open positions by sector.

Small business job vacancies decreased in eight out of 13 sectors, while remaining stagnant in the other five (see “job vacancies” tab on table above). The education sector (SIC P) had the fastest monthly decline, at 2.70%, with 400 fewer open positions.

By nation and region: most areas of the UK added jobs at small businesses in November

Two of the four UK nations saw small business employment growth in November: England and Wales. Employment in Wales increased the fastest, with monthly growth of 0.25%, adding 400 jobs. Scotland had the fastest decline, at 0.09%, with 300 fewer jobs at small businesses. 

England’s increase was slower, at 0.03%, but larger, adding 1,100 jobs in November. Within England, the North West increased the fastest, with a monthly growth of 0.14%, adding 600 jobs. Use the green buttons on the map below to see the number of jobs or open positions at small businesses by nation and region.

The number of job vacancies at small businesses declined or remained stagnant in three of the four UK nations. England had the largest and fastest decline, decreasing by 0.84% or 1,000 fewer open positions. Within England, job vacancies fell fastest in London, decreasing by 2.90% with 700 fewer open positions.

More information

Get all the details from the interactive Small Business Index dashboard.

Media inquiries

Media contact details for QuickBooks in the UK can be found here on the QuickBooks UK website.

USA Index

The Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Index is also published monthly in the US. Get the latest small business employment insights for the US here. 

Canada Index

The Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Index is also published monthly in Canada. Get the latest small business employment insights for Canada here.

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