According to the latest data released by the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), the UK printing industry continues to demonstrate its economic strength and resilience, recording a turnover of £14.3 billion and a gross value added (GVA) of £6.4 billion in 2025. The sector, comprising approximately 10,500 companies, employs 140,000 people across the country, making it one of the UK’s most significant manufacturing employers. Notably, just 5% of these companies generate 75% of total turnover, reflecting the dominance of large-scale operations in the market.

The workforce demographics reveal a gender split of 70% male to 30% female, which is higher in male representation than the broader UK manufacturing average, and an average worker age of 43.4 years. Employment trends have been increasingly positive, with more firms adding staff in Q3 2024 than reducing headcount, and further hiring intentions projected into Q4. This trend coincides with rising capacity utilization, which reached between 80% and 89% in October 2024, and an improvement in pricing levels following a year of decline.

Industry sentiment has strengthened after a period of uncertainty, with businesses citing renewed confidence in market conditions. However, challenges remain, primarily due to labor costs, which represent approximately 32% of total expenses, and an ongoing shortage of skilled workers that has constrained production capacity since mid-2022. Capital investment, last reported at £700 million in 2008, is expected to climb as companies continue to upgrade technology and automation to address labor gaps. With the outlook improving, the UK print sector enters 2025 with cautious optimism, buoyed by greater stability, improving profitability, and sustained demand across commercial and packaging print markets.