Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Index, May 2026

May 2026 UK jobs report highlights:

• UK small businesses employed 4,155,300 people in April 2026.

• Small business employment decreased by 1,300 jobs compared to March, a monthly decline rate of 0.03%.

• Employment increased in 7 of 13 sectors, with administrative & support services seeing the fastest growth.

• Employment declined in 2 of 4 UK nations, and in 3 of 9 regions of England.

• Job vacancies at small businesses decreased by 1,100 open positions in April—a monthly decline of 1.03%.

Small business employment: up by 1,300 jobs

Employment at UK small businesses with one to nine employees decreased by 1,300 jobs in April compared to March—that’s a 0.03% decline month-over-month. These businesses now employ 4,155,300 people. See chart below.

The number of job vacancies at small businesses decreased by 1,100 open positions in April—a monthly decline of 1.03%. There are now 110,500 job vacancies at small businesses throughout the UK. See “Total Job Vacancies” tab in the chart above.

By sector: employment growth in 7 of 13 sectors

Despite an overall decline, small business employment in the UK increased in 7 of the 13 sectors covered by the Small Business Index. The administrative & support services sector (SIC N) had the fastest growth (0.76%), adding 2,700 jobs. Accommodation & food services (SIC I) also added 2,700 jobs, with monthly growth of 0.57%. On the other end, the finance & insurance sector (SIC K) had by far the fastest decline (-8.84%) and largest decrease (-4,700 jobs).

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

Small business job vacancies declined in all 13 sectors (see “Job Vacancies” tab in table above). The fastest decline (-1.62%) was in the information & communication sector (SIC J).

By nation and region: employment a mixed bag across the UK

Small business employment declined in Scotland and England, and remained flat in Wales and Northern Ireland. Despite an overall decline for the nation, employment increased in six of the nine regions of England. The West Midlands region had the fastest growth (0.51%) and largest increase (1,800 jobs). London and East of England were close behind, each adding more than 1,500 jobs. However, larger declines in the South East (-4,300 jobs) and Yorkshire & The Humber (-2,300 jobs) contributed to an overall employment decline for the nation. 

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 four UK nations and in eight of the nine regions of England, remaining flat in the North East.

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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