"Labour demand is concerned with the demand for workers in an economy (i.e. number of jobs and vacancies). At an aggregate level, this is characterised by the levels and type of employer demand for labour. In the UK, labour demand is primarily assessed through surveys of businesses, measuring jobs, vacancies, labour costs, hours worked and skills shortages. This article provides an introduction to labour demand, outlining why it is measured, relevant theory, and available statistics for the UK. It uses examples to show how labour demand estimates can be interpreted and used, paying particular attention to two regions, London and the North East, as these regions have quite different labour market conditions."

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