The HR world is complex, especially within the UK as we go through rapid changes in the next couple of years following the Good Work Plan in Great Britain. Employment laws in the UK are predicted to change as we move away from EU laws. HR statistics are changing swiftly with record-breaking long-term sickness statistics, working from home, and pushing for greater inclusivity and equality.

Throughout 2022 we experienced the war for talent, and providing insights into the engagement and retention of employees is essential. Are employees truly engaged in their roles? What is the driving force behind their decision to seek new employment? What are the effects of a highly engaged workforce on profitability?

The role of the work environment on employees’ mental health is also a key aspect of our investigation. How does mental ill health affect the bottom line of UK businesses? What is the annual cost of mental health-related issues to employers? We have outlined statistics on mental health in the workplace and how by implementing mental health strategies saves your business financially.

We also look at stress in the workplace, acknowledge the responsibility employers have for managing stress in the workplace, and provide insights into menopause statistics in the workplace. Menopause is going to have an impact significantly in the coming years. Finally, we shed light on the increasing presence of disabilities in the workplace and the need for inclusivity.

We have outlined HR statistics, which we feel influence how HR consultants, owners and managers operate within a company. HR statistics cannot be ignored as we see new generations enter the workforce and as the age of the workforce continues to increase.

Key HR Statistics

• Average UK worker stays in a job for 4.5 years.
• 32% of UK workers are concerned about job security.
• UK workers rank flexible working as the most desirable benefit followed by job security and competitive salary.
• 27% of UK employees reported experiencing bullying or harassment.
• The UK has one of the highest gender pay gaps in Europe, with women earning on average 13.1% less than men.
• In 2020, UK employers invested £42 billion in employee training and development.
• The number of HR professionals in the UK I expected to grow by 3.2% between 2019 – 2024.
• The average UK worker spends 8 hours and 41 minutes at work each day.

Statistics on HR professionals

• The HR profession has grown by 42% in the last decade.
• More female HR professionals overall
• 11% of HR professionals have a disability.
• At the top-level men are paid more than women +3.7%
• 78% of HR professionals work in the private sector compared with 21% in the public sector.
• Bad reputation forces companies to offer 10% higher salaries.

7 shocking HR statistics you need to know about the workplace.

1. 85% of workers aren’t engaged in their roles.
2. 81% of employees are seeking new employment.
3. 21% more profitable businesses when their workforce is highly engaged.
4. Revenue boosts by x4 when there is a healthy working culture.
5. 68% of HR professionals cite that employee retention rates improve with employee recognition
6. Satisfaction in career development opportunities is only 29%
7. 75% of employees leave their jobs because of their boss – not the organisation.

Labour market overview UK: January 2023

The UK employment rate was estimated at 75.6% from September to November 2022

• Female employment rate September 2022 – November 2022 – 72.2%
• Male employment rate Sept 22 – Nov 22 – 79%

The estimated job vacancies fell by 76,000 between November 2022 to January 2023, falling to 1,134,000. Job vacancies have decreased consistently for 7 quarters from May to July 2022.

Recruitment is currently being held back due to economic uncertainty and pressures.

Whilst the employment rate has increased in the last quarter, employment rates haven’t reached pre-pandemic levels.

Labour disputes: working days lost due to strike action: UK (thousands)

• 467,000 – 417,000 days of work were directly lost to industrial action in October
• £1.7bn cost to the economy

Employment tribunal

In Q2 2022/23, there were 18,000 Employment tribunal receipts, 44% 7,800 of which were single claims receipts and the remaining 56% (10,000) were multiple claims receipts.

The ET disposed of 13,000 cases in Q2 22/23 an increase of 6% compared to Q2 21/22.

29% increase in registered special educational needs and disability appeals when compared to 2020/21

Employment tribunal and employment appeal tribunal 21/22

Mental Health statistics in the workplace

• 1 in 6.8 people experience mental health problems in the workplace (14.7%)
• Women in full-time employment are nearly twice as likely to have common mental health problems as full-time employed men (19.% to 10%)
• Evidence suggests that 12.7% of all sickness absence days in the UK can be attributed to mental health conditions.
• Better mental health support saves UK businesses up to £ 8 billion annually.

The cost of mental ill health for employers is approx. £56bn each year

Annual costs

• Presenteeism approx. £28bn
• Staff turnover – £22bn
• Absenteeism – £6bn

The annual cost of mental ill health to employers has increased by 25% since 2019

Workplace and Employee stress HR statistics

Employers have a responsibility to minimise stress in the workplace, this includes undertaking a stress risk assessment. This risk assessment will help to identify situations where stress levels may become too high and how to reduce them.

Factors contributing to stressful environments include overloaded work requirements, no work-life balance due to long working hours, and lacking or no control over work.

Champion Health shared insights on workplace stress, including that 30% of employees indicated that financial well-being caused stress outside of work.

Whilst just under 35% of employees stated their work-related stress was impacting them negatively. Furthermore, employees feel anxious at work is just under 60%, and over 50% experience low moods.

Find out how your business should be managing stress in the workplace.

Menopause in the workplace statistics UK

Over the last few years, we have seen greater empathise on the impact menopause has on individuals in the workplace. Many people have been calling for greater menopause support, including making menopause a protected characteristic.  However, this was rejected by the government due to already having gender and age as protected characteristics.

Surveys have shown shocking statistics including;

• Due to menopausal symptoms 1 in 4 are considering leaving the workplace, whereas 1 in 10 is leaving the UK workforce due to extreme symptoms.
• As people are working for longer, 8 out of 10 people going through menopause are still in work.
• On average, people begin to go through menopause at 51.

Menopause has an impact on both people’s physical and mental health, their general well-being will be impacted.

Disabilities in the workplace Statistics UK

Disabilities in the workplace are increasing, and employers need to create an inclusive work environment, accommodating the requirements of all employees. Disabilities accommodations should be made where possible and reasonable, enabling employees with disabilities to complete the responsibilities with ease.

It has been reported that of the working-age population 1 in 5 are classified as disabled, with 8% reported having a severe disability.

Between 2013/14 to 2020/21, long-term health conditions increased by 17%, a total of 2 million. More women have been classed as disabled compared to men, 920,000 against 450,000. Furthermore, the younger generation those between the ages of 16 and 34