Marvin OnumonuResolution Foundation posted new estimates for UK employment, using HRMC tax data alongside ONS population figures to work out employment rates.
Research found that since the start of the pandemic, the ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS) has faced problems including lower response rates and figures for employees and self-employed people that do not match up with tax records or employer surveys.
According to recent data, the employment rate for people aged 16 and over stood at 61.2% in January 2025, compared to 60.6% reported by the LFS for December to February.
For those aged 16 to 64, the employment rate stood at 75.5%, compared to 75.1% in the Labour force survey for the same period.
Additionally, the research found faster employment recovery after the pandemic than the survey suggested, but also a decline since 2023.
