As many workplaces prepare to shut down for the Christmas break, the TUC is today (Tuesday) urging everyone to spare a thought for the hundreds of thousands of people who will be working this Christmas Day.

The TUC estimates – based on official statistics – that the number of employees who will work on Friday 25 December is likely to exceed 900,000 this year – an increase of 42,000 (5 per cent) over the last three years.

Care workers (168,000) and medical staff (152,000) account for a big share of those working on Friday 25 December. In what is likely to be a busy festive period for the NHS, 89,000 nurses, 46,000 nursing assistants and 17,000 doctors will all be on duty.

And a large army of chefs (42,000), kitchen assistants (22,000), waiting (15,000) and bar staff (13,000) will be working in hotels, pubs and restaurants.

In addition, 22,000 police officers and 28,000 security guards will be at work. And 15,000 farm workers will be making sure that animals are being looked after.

Christmas Day services will also see 20,000 members of the clergy kept busy.

The TUC analysis shows that workers in the North East (1 in 28) will be the most likely to be at work, followed by those in the East Midlands (1 in 30) and the South West (1 in 31).

People in London (1 in 47) are the least likely to be on shift during Christmas Day.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Christmas Day is a special day that millions of us spend with our nearest and dearest. “So we should all spare a thought for the people who will be hard at work while we’re opening our presents, tucking into the turkey and relaxing with our families. “Many on duty on Christmas Day will be on low pay, especially in sectors like hospitality and social care. “Let’s stop and remember all those who keep the services we rely upon running during the Christmas break.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Number of people working on Christmas Day by region/nation (thousands)

Region/nation 2012 2015 As a % of all employment in 2015 North East 42 42 3.6 North West 99 103 3.1 Yorkshire & the Humber 77 80 3.1 East Midlands 72 76 3.3 West Midlands 57 59 2.2 Eastern 78 82 2.7 London 89 95 2.2 South East 124 130 2.9 South West 84 88 3.2 England 722 753 2.8 Wales 35 36 2.5 Scotland 88 94 3.6 Northern Ireland 20 20 2.4 UK total 863 905 2.9

Sources: 2012 ONS special release, 2015 TUC estimates.

Number of people working on Christmas Day by occupation (thousands)

Occupation 2012 2015 Care workers and home carers 136 153 Nurses 77 89 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants 43 46 Chefs 33 42 Security guards and related occupations 31 28 Cleaners and domestics 23 23 Police officers (sergeant and below) 21 22 Kitchen and catering assistants 20 23 Clergy 26 20 Medical practitioners 15 17 Waiters and waitresses 14 15 Snr care workers 17 15 Farm workers 11 15 Bar staff 11 13 Occupations with less than 10,000 working Christmas day 378 367 Total 863 905

Source: Labour Force Survey updated by TUC estimate.

- The TUC has case studies of people working at Christmas. Please contact the press office to be put in contact.

- The latest ONS figures relate to Christmas 2012. The TUC estimated figures for 2015 by increasing the 2012 results to take account of employment growth.

Contacts:

Media enquiries:

Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1285 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk