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Human Resources Provision in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2024-2028)

IBISWorld IBISWorld London, United Kingdom Last Updated: March 2024 SIC UK-N783

Revenue

£21.2bn

2024-25

£22.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

614k

Businesses

19,804

Wages

£XX.Xbn

Human Resources Provision in the UK industry analysis

Revenue in the HR Provision industry is anticipated to dip at a compound annual rate of 3.8% over the five years through 2024 to €21.2 billion. This drop is down to turbulent economic conditions that have slowed company spending across Europe and cut space in businesses’ budgets for HR services. Surging inflation throughout Europe over the past couple of years has seen businesses reduce their spending on outsourcing HR services, while demand from the public sector has suffered in the face of governments cutting their budgets. In 2024, some HR providers have found opportunities in helping companies negotiate cuts to their workforces due to economic slowdowns across many European countries. Revenue is expected to drop by 2.2% in 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • Economy uncertainty drives companies to restructure their workforces. Many companies making redundancies, particularly in the tech sector, have relied on outsourcing HR services to plan and strategise for their future workforce.
  • More businesses seek advice on shaping their work culture and benefit schemes. Workplace benefits have become an important aspect of employer contracts and companies are relying on HR professionals to create career progression pathways.
  • HR companies expand by adopting advanced software. Larger HR companies are using technology to satisfy clients both online and in-person. Greater adoption of HR software has expanded the global reach of HR companies.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom is £21.2bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom in 2024?

There are 19,804 businesses in the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom include?

Payroll services and HR consultancy services are part of the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Human Resources Provision industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

HR companies need to follow strict regulations. There are lots of regulations regarding recruitment, employment conditions, work contracts and firing processes. HR providers need to know how to carry out fair hiring, disciplinary and dismissal processes.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Human Resources Provision in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

HR providers rely on skilled staff. They need qualified and experienced workers, especially for consultancy, which props up spending on wages. That being said, wage costs are edging downwards in line with falling demand for HR consultancy.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Human Resources Provision in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2024)
  • Business Growth (2024)
  • Job Growth (2024)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2024)
  • Imports/Demand (2024)
  • Exports/Revenue (2024)
  • Revenue per Employee (2024)
  • Wages/Revenue (2024)
  • Employees per Establishment (2024)
  • Average Wage (2024)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

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