The latest data is in—and it’s a warning siren. According to the S&P Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), the UK has suffered the sharpest decline in factory employment of all 31 economies surveyed. Behind the numbers lies a deeper truth: workers are being left to pay the price of a crumbling sector with little protection, little say, and mounting pressure.
Britain’s Manufacturing in Crisis
With a PMI score of 45.4 in April (well below the neutral 50 line), the UK manufacturing sector continues its descent into contraction for the seventh month running. But compared globally, the picture becomes even more concerning.
The UK now leads in job losses and export order collapses—surpassing even war-stricken economies like Myanmar. According to the report, this is the second-steepest drop in UK factory headcounts since the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. The downturn is not just about sluggish sales or post-pandemic recovery; it’s being driven by systemic factors: inflation in supply chains, rising employer costs, and economic uncertainty.
“The drop in employment was attributed to weaker sales and rising operational costs, including increased employer National Insurance contributions and minimum wage obligations.”
Workers Carry the Cost
Let’s be clear: job losses don’t happen in a vacuum. Every redundancy is a livelihood lost, a household shaken, a future put on hold. Yet time and again, working people are the first to feel the pain—and the last to be consulted.
The S&P data shows that while factory output struggles, workers are being sacrificed to keep margins intact. Employers are pointing fingers at tax hikes and minimum wage rises. But that’s only one side of the story. What’s missing is a plan—any plan—that puts workers at the centre of industrial strategy.
The UWA View: What Must Be Done
At United Workers Alliance, we say enough is enough.
When job losses are this sharp, and economic blame is this casually assigned to employee rights, it’s time for a reset—not just in policy, but in power.
🟣 We call for full transparency from manufacturers and the government about workforce changes.
🟣 We demand urgent investment in job transition schemes, retraining, and secure employment guarantees in affected regions.
🟣 We insist that working people are not scapegoated for economic decisions made far above their pay grade.
Now More Than Ever: Get Organised
When the economy shakes, those without a voice get pushed out first. That’s why now is the time to join a union—not later.
At UWA, we don’t just protect your rights—we equip you to stand up, speak out, and shape what comes next.
💬 1-to-1 support with employment experts
📣 Collective campaigning to defend jobs and conditions
🤝 A community of workers who’ve had enough of being ignored
Join UWA today and ensure your future: http://unitedworkersalliance.co.uk/join-us/
Source:
- S&P Global PMI Manufacturing Report, April 2025
- https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/mi/research-analysis/uk-manufacturers-report-steepest-job-and-export-losses-of-all-economies-surveyed-May25.html