Department for Work and Pensions (Get Britain Working white paper)'s pledge

That is why the government has set a long-term ambition to achieve an 80% employment rate.

Made under the 2024 to 2026 Starmer Labour government, as GOV.UK labels it.

Made 2024-11-26 · Deadline long-term · Where it was made · archived copy · Government publication

What the official figures show

Employment rate ambition, long-term (target)

80%

2026-10-23 · Department for Work and Pensions, Get Britain Working White Paper · receipt

Employment rate, aged 16 to 64 (%)

75.3%

2026 JUN-AUG · Office for National Statistics, series LF24 · receipt

Employment rate, aged 16 to 64 (%), 2024 MAY-JUL (baseline)

74.7%

2026-10-23 · Office for National Statistics, series LF24 (Employment rate (aged 16 to 64, seasonally adjusted): %) · receipt

These figures are repeated from their sources and update automatically. We don't say whether the pledge has been kept.