The UK government estimates that there were about 1.81 million filled jobs in the digital sector in 2025, up from 1.77 million in 2024. The estimate was published on 1 October [1].
That is 5.2% of all UK filled jobs, the same share as in 2024 [1].
The estimate fell by 120,000, or 6.3%, from 2023 to 2024 [1].
The ranges around the estimates overlap: 1.74 million to 1.87 million for 2025, against 1.69 million to 1.84 million for 2024. The statisticians say the changes were not tested for significance and may reflect sampling variability [1].
Computer programming, consultancy and related work makes up 58.1% of the sector's jobs. Its estimate rose by about 17,000, or 1.6% [1].
What it measures
Filled jobs, full-time and part-time, including the self-employed, in businesses whose industry codes fall in the digital sector. That follows the OECD's definition: the ICT sector plus content and media, so film, TV, music and publishing are counted too [1].
The figures come from the Office for National Statistics' Annual Population Survey, a household survey. They lost their accredited status because of small samples, and are now Official Statistics in Development [1].
What it does not tell you
Whether digital jobs really grew. The rise is smaller than the uncertainty in the survey, and the ranges do not capture every known problem with the data [1].
Anything about tech work in other industries. The sector is counted by industry code, so a software developer employed by a bank is not in it [1].
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