Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Index, July 2025

Small business employment: down by 1,400 jobs

Employment at UK small businesses with one to nine employees decreased by 1,400 jobs in June compared to May. These businesses now employ 4,191,300 people—a 0.03% decrease month-over-month. See chart below.

The number of job vacancies at small businesses also decreased in June, with a monthly decrease of 3.60%. There are now 102,300 job vacancies at small businesses throughout the UK. See “Total Job Vacancies” tab in the chart above.

By sector: small business employment increased in 8 of 13 sectors

Despite an overall dip, small business employment in June increased in 8 of the 13 sectors tracked by the Index. Of the sectors tracked, construction (SIC F) saw the largest increase, adding 11,100 jobs (a 1.85% increase). Accommodation and food services (SIC I) had the fastest and largest decrease, with a monthly decline of 3.59% (-17,100 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 8 of the 13 sectors (see “Job Vacancies” tab on table above). Construction (SIC F) had the fastest monthly decrease, at 14.59%. Education (SIC P) had the fastest increase, with a monthly vacancy growth rate of 3.01%. 

By nation and region: employment declined fastest in North West England

Small business employment decreased in 3 of the 4 UK nations and in 5 of the 9 regions of England. For the second month in a row, employment decreased the fastest in North West England, with a monthly decline of 3.02%, decreasing by 12,800 jobs. North East England saw the fastest growth, increasing by 7.59% (adding 9,100 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 decreased across all regions of the UK. North East England had the fastest decrease, with a monthly decline ‌of 8.46%.  

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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