Forecasting economic activity levels in the legal activities sector
These forecasts are based on data from the Office for National Statistics and UK forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
Key findings
Our latest forecasts are for the period up to 2028 and demonstrate:
Economic activity is increasing steadily
The decade from 2009 to 2018 saw a steady increase in economic activity in the legal activities sector, with increases in:
- the number of enterprises
- the level of turnover that these enterprises generate
- the level of GVA that they create
This is broadly in line with rates for the economy as a whole.
Over the same period, employment in the sector has stayed at approximately the same level.
Productivity increased while employment fell
Changes in the period 2009 to 2018 mean that the average number of people employed in each enterprise has fallen, and turnover and GVA per person employed in legal activities businesses have increased.
More is being produced with the same amount of staff.
Early signs of recovery from economic shock
As a result of Brexit and COVID-19, there has been a significant shock to levels of activity in the short term, with falls in the number of legal activities enterprises, the level of turnover and GVA of around 10% in 2020.
These are expected to begin to recover after 2020, but not expected to return to previous levels until the end of 2022.
By the end of this forecast period (2028), the forecasts expect these indicators to have increased on the 2019 (pre-shock) levels by 14%.
Projected increase in employment
The levels of employment in legal activities businesses follow a different trajectory.
In the short-term, employment levels are protected by the furlough scheme and then are expected to slowly increase – by 12,000 (3%) by 2028.
Increasing proportion of work outside the legal sector
We estimate that of all legal professionals working in the economy, some 44% work outside the legal activities sector.
This number (and proportion) has been slowly increasing over time and now accounts for a higher proportion of all legal professional employment.