The publication methodology explains the definitions used and how estimates have been produced. It also provides information on the data sources, their coverage and quality.
Coverage
The data used in this release mostly relate to the UK labour market and are aggregated together to create a UK demand index. The exception to this are indicators using data from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), which does not contain data from Northern Ireland and is therefore Great Britain only.
This publication revises the 2024 occupations in demand publication using an updated methodology.
The earliest data source used in this release when revising the 2024 occupations in demand publication contains data to April 2022, the latest contains data to March 2024.
The earliest data source used in this release when producing new 2025 occupations in demand analysis contains data to April 2024, the latest contains data to September 2025.
Information on how occupations or industries have been grouped together can be found in the additional supporting files of this release.
Full details of the coverage for each source are provided in the publication methodology.
File formats and conventions
The underlying data files are provided in comma separated value (csv) format.
Rounding and decimal places vary across the different files, based on conventions for the relevant sources and what is appropriate for the analysis that has been undertaken.
Symbols used in the underlying data are as follows:
‘z’ when an observation is not applicable
‘x’ when data is unavailable for other reasons
‘c’ confidential data removed due to suppression
Data files
All data files associated with this releases are listed below with guidance on their content. To download any of these files, please visit our data catalogue.
Raw occupations in demand
Filename
raw_OID_output.csv
Geographic levels
National
Time period
2025
Content
This file contains demand indicators used in determining occupations in demand before weighting and scaling.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
annual_change_in_hours_worked
Annual change in hours worked
annual_change_in_hours_worked_lower_estimate
Annual change in hours worked lower estimate value
annual_perc_change_in_hourly_wage
Annual percentage change in hourly wage
annual_perc_change_in_hourly_wage_lower_estimate
Annual percentage change in hourly wage lower estimate value
construction
Occupation is in construction - Filter by construction occupations
count
Number of occupations
demand_level
Demand level - Filter by level of demand
demand_level_percent
Proportion of workers in demand
hourly_wage
Average hourly wage
immigration_salary_list
Occupation is in the immigration salary list - Filter by immigration salary list occupations
imputation_capped_indicators
Indicators capped at elevated demand due to imputation
imputed_indicators
Number of imputed indicators
indicator_demand
Indicators that are in demand
indicator_demand_uncertainty_flag
Uncertainty in indicators which are in high demand - Filter by whether an occupation has demand indicators which also hit uncertainty flags
indicator_uncertainty
Uncertainty in demand indicators
missing_indicators
Number of missing indicators
named_imputed_indicators
Indicators imputed from 3-digit SOC
online_job_ad_density
Online job advert density
online_job_ad_density_lower_estimate
Online job advert density lower estimate value
percent
Proportion of workers
skill_level
ONS skill level - Filter by ONS skill level
soc20_label
SOC20 Description - Filter by occupation description
soc20_unit
SOC20 - Filter by occupation unit
STEM
Occupation is in STEM - Filter by STEM occupations
visa_density
Visa grant density
visa_density_lower_estimate
Visa grant density lower estimate value
wage_premium
Wage premium
wage_premium_lower_estimate
Wage premium lower estimate value
workers
Number of workers
Footnotes
Average is the weighted mean based on published workers.
The annual change in hourly wage, wage premium and annual change in hours worked indicators do not include Northern Ireland data, whereas the visa density and online job advert density indicators include data for the whole of the UK. This could disproportionately impact occupations which have a large proportion of workers in Northern Ireland.
This file contains demand indicators used in determining occupations in demand, demand levels, and information on demand indicator uncertainty and indicator imputation.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
annual_change_in_hours_worked_critical
Annual change in hours worked critical demand flag
annual_change_in_hours_worked_elevated
Annual change in hours worked elevated demand flag
annual_perc_change_in_hourly_wage_critical
Annual percentage change in hourly wage critical demand flag
annual_perc_change_in_hourly_wage_elevated
Annual percentage change in hourly wage elevated demand flag
construction
Occupation is in construction - Filter by construction occupations
count
Number of occupations
demand_index
Demand index
demand_level
Demand level - Filter by level of demand
demand_level_percent
Proportion of workers in demand
hourly_wage
Average hourly wage
immigration_salary_list
Occupation is in the immigration salary list - Filter by immigration salary list occupations
imputation_capped_indicators
Indicators capped at elevated demand due to imputation
imputed_indicators
Number of imputed indicators
indicator_demand
Indicators that are in demand
indicator_demand_uncertainty_flag
Uncertainty in indicators which are in high demand - Filter by whether an occupation has demand indicators which also hit uncertainty flags
Annual percentage change in hourly wage lower estimate value
scaled_online_job_ad_density_lower_estimate
Online job advert density lower estimate value
scaled_visa_density_lower_estimate
Visa grant density lower estimate value
scaled_wage_premium_lower_estimate
Wage premium lower estimate value
skill_level
ONS skill level - Filter by ONS skill level
soc20_label
SOC20 Description - Filter by occupation description
soc20_unit
SOC20 - Filter by occupation unit
STEM
Occupation is in STEM - Filter by STEM occupations
visa_density_critical
Visa grant density critical demand flag
visa_density_elevated
Visa grant density elevated demand flag
wage_premium_critical
Wage premium critical demand flag
wage_premium_elevated
Wage premium elevated demand flag
workers
Number of workers
Footnotes
Average is the weighted mean based on published workers.
The annual change in hourly wage, wage premium and annual change in hours worked indicators do not include Northern Ireland data, whereas the visa density and online job advert density indicators include data for the whole of the UK. This could disproportionately impact occupations which have a large proportion of workers in Northern Ireland.
This file contains industry level demand data, based on proportional distribution of occupations in demand across industries.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
construction
Occupation is in construction
count
Number of occupations
demand_level
Demand level - Filter by level of demand
demand_level_percent
Proportion of workers in demand
immigration_salary_list
Occupation is in the immigration salary list
imputation_capped_indicators
Indicators capped at elevated demand due to imputation
indicator_demand
Indicators that are in demand
indicator_demand_uncertainty_flag
Uncertainty in indicators which are in high demand - Filter by whether an occupation has demand indicators which also hit uncertainty flags
indicator_uncertainty
Uncertainty in demand indicators
industry_workers
Number of industry workers
named_imputed_indicators
Indicators imputed from 3-digit SOC
occupation_workers
Number of occupation workers
percent
Proportion of workers
SIC_name
Industry name - Filter by industry name
skill_level
ONS skill level - Filter by ONS skill level
soc20_label
SOC20 Description - Filter by occupation description
soc20_unit
SOC20 - Filter by occupation unit
STEM
Occupation is in STEM
Footnotes
The annual change in hourly wage, wage premium and annual change in hours worked indicators do not include Northern Ireland data, whereas the visa density and online job advert density indicators include data for the whole of the UK. This could disproportionately impact occupations which have a large proportion of workers in Northern Ireland.
Industry worker volumes proportionately distribute occupation workers using the distributions shown in the mapping of occupations to industries supporting file.
Proportion uses the total number of workers in the respective industry as the denominator
Proportion uses the total number of workers in the respective demand level and industry as the denominators.
This file contains 2024 release demand indicators used in determining occupations in demand after weighting and scaling together with the overall demand index.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
annual_change_in_contract_temp_workers
Annual change in contract or temporary workers
annual_change_in_hourly_wage
Annual change in hourly wage
annual_change_in_hours_worked
Annual change in hours worked
cluster
Occupation group - Filter by occupation cluster groups
construction
Occupation is in construction - Filter by construction occupations
count
Number of occupations
demand_index
Demand index
demand_level
Demand level - Filter by type of demand
demand_level_percent
Proportion of workers in demand
hourly_wage
Average hourly wage
imputed_indicators
Number of indicators imputed from 3-digit SOC
missing_indicators
Number of indicators with missing data
online_job_ad_density
Online job advert density
percent
Proportion of workers
shortage_occupation_list
Occupation is in the shortage occupation list - Filter by shortage occupation list occupations
skill_level
ONS skill level - Filter by skill level
skills_shortage_vacancy_density
Skills shortage vacancy density
soc20_label
SOC20 Description - Filter by occupation description
soc20_unit
SOC20 - Filter by occupation
STEM
Occupation is in STEM - Filter by STEM occupations
visa_application_density
Visa application density
wage_premium
Wage premium
workers
Number of workers
Footnotes
Average is the mean across occupations.
The annual change in hourly wage, wage premium and annual change in hours worked indicators do not include Northern Ireland data, whereas the visa density and online job advert density indicators include data for the whole of the UK. This could disproportionately impact occupations which have a large proportion of workers in Northern Ireland.
This file contains 2024 release industry level demand data, based on proportional distribution of occupations in demand across industries.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
annual_change_in_contract_temp_workers
Annual change in contract or temporary workers
annual_change_in_hourly_wage
Annual change in hourly wage
annual_change_in_hours_worked
Annual change in hours worked
cluster
Occupation group - Filter by occupation cluster groups
construction
Occupation is in construction - Filter by construction occupations
count
Number of occupations
demand_index
Demand index
demand_level
Demand level - Filter by type of demand
demand_level_percent
Proportion of workers in demand
hourly_wage
Average hourly wage
imputed_indicators
Number of indicators imputed from 3-digit SOC
industry_workers
Number of industry workers
missing_indicators
Number of indicators with missing data
occupation_workers
Number of occupation workers
online_job_ad_density
Online job advert density
percent
Proportion of workers
shortage_occupation_list
Occupation is in the shortage occupation list - Filter by shortage occupation list occupations
SIC_name
Industry name - Filter by industry
skill_level
ONS skill level - Filter by skill level
skills_shortage_vacancy_density
Skills shortage vacancy density
soc20_label
SOC20 Description - Filter by occupation description
soc20_unit
SOC20 - Filter by occupation
STEM
Occupation is in STEM - Filter by STEM occupations
visa_application_density
Visa application density
wage_premium
Wage premium
Footnotes
Average is the mean across occupations.
The annual change in hourly wage, wage premium and annual change in hours worked indicators do not include Northern Ireland data, whereas the visa density and online job advert density indicators include data for the whole of the UK. This could disproportionately impact occupations which have a large proportion of workers in Northern Ireland.
Industry worker volumes proportionately distribute occupation workers using the distributions shown in the mapping of occupations to industries 2024 supporting file.
Proportion uses the total number of workers in the respective industry as the denominator
Proportion uses the total number of workers in the respective demand level and industry as the denominators.
This file contains revised 2024 release demand indicators used in determining occupations in demand before weighting and scaling.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
annual_change_in_hours_worked
Annual change in hours worked
annual_change_in_hours_worked_lower_estimate
Annual change in hours worked lower estimate value
annual_perc_change_in_hourly_wage
Annual percentage change in hourly wage
annual_perc_change_in_hourly_wage_lower_estimate
Annual percentage change in hourly wage lower estimate value
construction
Occupation is in construction - Filter by construction occupations
count
Number of occupations
demand_level
Demand level - Filter by level of demand
demand_level_percent
Proportion of workers in demand
hourly_wage
Average hourly wage
immigration_salary_list
Occupation is in the immigration salary list - Filter by immigration salary list occupations
imputation_capped_indicators
Indicators capped at elevated demand due to imputation
imputed_indicators
Number of imputed indicators
indicator_demand
Indicators that are in demand
indicator_demand_uncertainty_flag
Uncertainty in indicators which are in high demand - Filter by whether an occupation has demand indicators which also hit uncertainty flags
indicator_uncertainty
Uncertainty in demand indicators
missing_indicators
Number of missing indicators
named_imputed_indicators
Indicators imputed from 3-digit SOC
online_job_ad_density
Online job advert density
online_job_ad_density_lower_estimate
Online job advert density lower estimate value
percent
Proportion of workers
skill_level
ONS skill level - Filter by ONS skill level
soc20_label
SOC20 Description - Filter by occupation description
soc20_unit
SOC20 - Filter by occupation unit
STEM
Occupation is in STEM - Filter by STEM occupations
visa_density
Visa grant density
visa_density_lower_estimate
Visa grant density lower estimate value
wage_premium
Wage premium
wage_premium_lower_estimate
Wage premium lower estimate value
workers
Number of workers
Footnotes
Average is the weighted mean based on published workers.
The annual change in hourly wage, wage premium and annual change in hours worked indicators do not include Northern Ireland data, whereas the visa density and online job advert density indicators include data for the whole of the UK. This could disproportionately impact occupations which have a large proportion of workers in Northern Ireland.
This file contains revised 2024 release demand indicators used in determining occupations in demand, demand levels, and information on demand indicator uncertainty and indicator imputation.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
annual_change_in_hours_worked_critical
Annual change in hours worked critical demand flag
annual_change_in_hours_worked_elevated
Annual change in hours worked elevated demand flag
annual_perc_change_in_hourly_wage_critical
Annual percentage change in hourly wage critical demand flag
annual_perc_change_in_hourly_wage_elevated
Annual percentage change in hourly wage elevated demand flag
construction
Occupation is in construction - Filter by construction occupations
count
Number of occupations
demand_index
Demand index
demand_level
Demand level - Filter by level of demand
demand_level_percent
Proportion of workers in demand
hourly_wage
Average hourly wage
immigration_salary_list
Occupation is in the immigration salary list - Filter by immigration salary list occupations
imputation_capped_indicators
Indicators capped at elevated demand due to imputation
imputed_indicators
Number of imputed indicators
indicator_demand
Indicators that are in demand
indicator_demand_uncertainty_flag
Uncertainty in indicators which are in high demand - Filter by whether an occupation has demand indicators which also hit uncertainty flags
Annual percentage change in hourly wage lower estimate value
scaled_online_job_ad_density_lower_estimate
Online job advert density lower estimate value
scaled_visa_density_lower_estimate
Visa grant density lower estimate value
scaled_wage_premium_lower_estimate
Wage premium lower estimate value
skill_level
ONS skill level - Filter by ONS skill level
soc20_label
SOC20 Description - Filter by occupation description
soc20_unit
SOC20 - Filter by occupation unit
STEM
Occupation is in STEM - Filter by STEM occupations
visa_density_critical
Visa grant density critical demand flag
visa_density_elevated
Visa grant density elevated demand flag
wage_premium_critical
Wage premium critical demand flag
wage_premium_elevated
Wage premium elevated demand flag
workers
Number of workers
Footnotes
Average is the weighted mean based on published workers.
The annual change in hourly wage, wage premium and annual change in hours worked indicators do not include Northern Ireland data, whereas the visa density and online job advert density indicators include data for the whole of the UK. This could disproportionately impact occupations which have a large proportion of workers in Northern Ireland.
This file contains revised 2024 release industry level demand data, based on proportional distribution of occupations in demand across industries.
Variable names and descriptions
Variable names and descriptions for this file are provided below:
Variable name
Variable description
construction
Occupation is in construction
count
Number of occupations
demand_level
Demand level - Filter by level of demand
demand_level_percent
Proportion of workers in demand
immigration_salary_list
Occupation is in the immigration salary list
imputation_capped_indicators
Indicators capped at elevated demand due to imputation
indicator_demand
Indicators that are in demand
indicator_demand_uncertainty_flag
Uncertainty in indicators which are in high demand - Filter by whether an occupation has demand indicators which also hit uncertainty flags
indicator_uncertainty
Uncertainty in demand indicators
industry_workers
Number of industry workers
named_imputed_indicators
Indicators imputed from 3-digit SOC
occupation_workers
Number of occupation workers
percent
Proportion of workers
SIC_name
Industry name - Filter by industry name
skill_level
ONS skill level - Filter by ONS skill level
soc20_label
SOC20 Description - Filter by occupation description
soc20_unit
SOC20 - Filter by occupation unit
STEM
Occupation is in STEM
Footnotes
The annual change in hourly wage, wage premium and annual change in hours worked indicators do not include Northern Ireland data, whereas the visa density and online job advert density indicators include data for the whole of the UK. This could disproportionately impact occupations which have a large proportion of workers in Northern Ireland.
Industry worker volumes proportionately distribute occupation workers using the distributions shown in the mapping of occupations to industries 2024 supporting file.
Proportion uses the total number of workers in the respective industry as the denominator
Proportion uses the total number of workers in the respective demand level and industry as the denominators.
All annual population survey published worker numbers are included, while in the 2024 publication occupations suppressed in the analysis were suppressed in outputs. For this reason some worker totals and percentages may not match the 2024 publication outputs.
Proportion uses the total workers in the respective demand level as the denominator.