Northern Ireland was the only part of the UK to record year-over-year growth in payrolled employees in September 2026, while its latest labor survey put economic inactivity at a national high.
The ONS published the regional survey results for June to August 2026 and separate September payroll estimates based on HMRC Pay As You Earn records. The measures cover different parts of the labor market: survey rates describe people by work status, while payroll data count employees paid through Pay As You Earn records.
Northern Ireland's payrolled employee count increased 0.9% from September 2025. It was the only UK country or English region to record an increase. London's count fell 0.7%. Across the UK, the early estimate was 30.3 million employees, 66,000, or 0.2%, fewer than a year earlier. The ONS says the September estimate is provisional and may be revised as more records arrive.
In the Labour Force Survey, Northern Ireland had the lowest unemployment rate, 2.1%, among people ages 16 and older. It also had the highest economic inactivity rate, 25.9%, among people ages 16 to 64. Unemployment measures joblessness among people in the labor force; inactivity covers people outside it. The rates therefore describe different groups.
London had the highest unemployment rate, 6.6%. Among people ages 16 to 64, the South West had the highest employment rate, 79.2%, and the lowest inactivity rate, 17.5%. The North East had the lowest employment rate, 70.5%. Across the UK, employment was 75.3%, unemployment was 4.7% and inactivity was 20.9%.
The ONS cautioned that short-term regional survey movements can be volatile, particularly where samples are smaller. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) said changes in Northern Ireland's headline survey measures over the quarter and year were not statistically significant. The next regional labor market release is scheduled for Nov. 17, 2026.
