Aim of this survey

The Vacancy Survey is a regular survey of businesses that provides an accurate and comprehensive measure of the total number of vacancies across the economy. The information you provide is used by the Treasury and Bank of England as a valuable indicator of labour demand. Data from the survey are published in the monthly Vacancies and jobs in the UK statistical bulletin.

What you need to know

To complete the survey, you will need the number of job vacancies your business had on the count date (actual date is stated) for which you were actively seeking recruits from outside your organisation.

All information you provide is strictly confidential.

Survey information

Selection criteria: UK businesses registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
Population: approximately 2.4 million
Sample: approximately 6,000
Frequency: monthly and quarterly
Dispatch dates: between 29th and 5th of every month
Return-by date: between 8th and 15th of every month

Dispatch and return-by dates are a guide. They are subject to change because of national holidays and weekends.

Why you were selected

Your business has been selected from a directory of businesses in the UK that are registered for VAT and/or PAYE or with Companies House. Your response ensures we represent your industry.

The Vacancy Survey is conducted under the provisions of the Statistics of Trade Act 1947. Once selected, your business is legally obliged to comply. You cannot appeal your selection.

Why you have received this survey

We survey businesses of all sizes to ensure our statistics are representative of the UK economy. We select large businesses (those with 2,500 or more employees) for the Vacancy Survey because their information is so significant.

We select some small and medium-sized businesses, usually for a set period of time, then replace them with other businesses from their industry. They are important to us as their trading patterns are often very different to large businesses.

How to complete this survey

You will have received a letter or email that explains how to complete this survey online. Please use your unique enrolment code to report your information.

Complete this survey online

Reminders are issued automatically, so you may receive one if you submit data just before or after the return-by date.

If you need help

If your question is not answered on this page, you may be able to find the answer in the About Office for National Statistics (ONS) business surveys section.

You can call us on 0300 1234 931. Please enter the three-digit survey ID: 182, 183, 184 or 185.

From outside the UK: +44 1633 810495.

Er mwyn gwneud cais am ffurflen Gymraeg (to speak to someone in Welsh): 0300 1234 921.

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