Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Index, January 2025

Small business employment: up by 6,900 jobs

Employment at UK small businesses with one to nine employees increased by 6,900 jobs in December compared to November. These businesses now employ 4,205,800 people—a 0.16% increase month-over-month. See chart below.

The number of job vacancies at small businesses declined in December, with 800 fewer open positions compared to November—a monthly decline of 0.65%. This leaves 122,200 job vacancies at small businesses throughout the UK. See “Total Job Vacancies” tabs in the chart above.

By sector: small business employment increased in seven sectors

Small business employment in December increased in seven sectors tracked by the Index but decreased in the other six. Accommodation and food services (SIC I) had the fastest monthly decrease, contracting by 3.86%, with 19,000 fewer jobs. The health care and social work sector (SIC Q) had the fastest increase, at 4.84%, with 7,400 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 all 13 sectors (see “Job Vacancies” tab on table above). The manufacturing sector (SIC C) had the fastest monthly decline, at 2.88%, with 200 fewer open positions.

By nation and region: employment decreased in seven UK regions

North East England had the fastest monthly decrease in small business employment, contracting by 8.30%, with 10,200 fewer jobs. South West England increased the fastest, with a monthly growth rate of 6.65%, adding 23,700 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 in all nations and regions of the UK. The West Midlands had the largest and fastest decline, decreasing by 2.36% or 200 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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