Finance

Poor UK productivity recovers partially in Q4, ONS data shows

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 18, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 26, 2026

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Graph illustrating UK productivity trends in Q4 2024 - Global Banking & Finance Review
This image depicts a graph showing the partial recovery of UK productivity in Q4 2024, highlighting the 0.7% increase in output-per-hour. It relates to ONS data discussing the economy's performance, crucial for finance analysis.
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(Reuters) - Productivity in Britain's economy, one of its major weak points, recovered partially in the fourth quarter of 2024 but was down compared with a year previously, official data showed on

Poor UK productivity recovers partially in Q4, ONS data shows

(Reuters) - Productivity in Britain's economy, one of its major weak points, recovered partially in the fourth quarter of 2024 but was down compared with a year previously, official data showed on Tuesday.

The Office for National Statistics said output-per-hour worked increased by 0.7% in the fourth quarter, partially reversing a 1.1% drop in the third quarter.

Compared with a year earlier, output-per-hour was down 0.8%.

The productivity data are subject to greater-than-usual uncertainty because the data source for hours worked, the Labour Force Survey, is subject to sample size problems that have decreased the reliability of labour market data.

(Reporting by Andy Bruce; Editing by William Schomberg)

Key Takeaways

  • UK productivity improved by 0.7% in Q4 2024.
  • Output-per-hour was down 0.8% compared to the previous year.
  • The Labour Force Survey's sample size issues affect data reliability.
  • Q3 2024 saw a 1.1% decline in productivity.
  • Economic challenges persist despite partial recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the productivity change in the fourth quarter of 2024?
Productivity in the UK increased by 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024, partially reversing a 1.1% drop from the third quarter.
How does the current productivity compare to last year?
Compared to a year earlier, output-per-hour was down 0.8%, indicating a decline in productivity over the year.
What concerns exist regarding the productivity data?
The productivity data are subject to greater-than-usual uncertainty due to sample size problems in the Labour Force Survey, which affects the reliability of hours worked.

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