UK Employment Tribunal Claims Hit Record Levels in 2025

This article applies to England, Wales and Scotland.

Important: This guide provides information about UK employment law. It is not legal advice. Every situation is different. If you are dealing with a workplace dispute, consider speaking to a solicitor for advice specific to your circumstances.

In brief: UK employment tribunal single claims reached 10,424 in Q3 2025/26 (October to December 2025, provisional), a 61% increase on the same quarter the previous year. The open caseload for single claims now stands at 30,784, having grown 167% year-on-year. The tribunal system disposed of fewer than half the claims it received — 4,534 disposed against 10,424 received — adding around 5,900 cases to the backlog every quarter.

Last updated: March 2026

If you are dealing with a workplace issue right now, you are far from alone. Tribunal claim numbers have surged over the past year, with thousands more workers taking action over unfair treatment, unpaid wages, and discrimination. This guide breaks down the latest official data so you can see where things stand and what it could mean for your situation.

The figures come from the Ministry of Justice's Employment Tribunal Statistics, specifically the Reform system data covering single claims accepted between Q2 2024/25 and Q3 2025/26.

How many tribunal claims are being filed?

Employment tribunal single claims have risen sharply over six consecutive quarters:

That Q3 2025/26 figure of 10,424 single claims represents a 61% increase compared to Q3 2024/25, when 6,472 claims were filed. Growth has been unbroken across all six quarters.

Each claim typically contains more than one complaint. The average across all six quarters is 2.2 jurisdictional complaints per claim. Most claimants raise multiple legal issues: unfair dismissal alongside unpaid wages, or discrimination combined with a breach of contract.

What are the most common claim types?

Unfair dismissal dominates. In Q3 2025/26 (provisional), the ten most common jurisdictional complaints were:

Year-on-year figures compare Q3 2025/26 to Q3 2024/25. Because claimants often bring more than one complaint, share percentages add up to more than 100%.

Four trends stand out. Whistleblowing claims have more than doubled year-on-year, rising 102% from 888 to 1,796 complaints — the fastest growing major claim type. Disability discrimination complaints grew 99%, nearly doubling to become firmly the second most common complaint type. Unauthorised deductions from wages grew 77%, overtaking breach of contract. Breach of contract is the only major claim type that declined, falling 4%.

The backlog: over 30,000 open cases

New claims are being filed much faster than existing ones are resolved. The tribunal system disposed of 4,534 claims in Q3 2025/26 against 10,424 received — a clearance rate of 43.5%. The system has plateaued in its ability to clear cases: disposal growth has decelerated from 78% (Q2–Q3 2024/25) to just 10% (Q2–Q3 2025/26) while receipts keep rising.

That is a 167% increase year-on-year (Q3 2024/25 to Q3 2025/26). The mean time to clear a claim has risen from 19 weeks a year ago to 31 weeks now — a 63% increase in twelve months.

Why are claims rising?

Several factors appear to be driving the increase. Economic pressures have led to more redundancies and restructuring, which often triggers disputes. Greater awareness of employment rights, particularly around disability, discrimination, and whistleblowing, also plays a role — disability claims alone nearly doubled in a year.

The Employment Rights Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, is expected to increase claims further. Key changes include reducing the unfair dismissal qualifying period from two years to six months (expected January 2027), extending tribunal time limits from three months to six months (expected October 2026), and removing the cap on unfair dismissal compensation.

According to government estimates, an additional six million workers could gain the right to bring unfair dismissal claims once the qualifying period change takes effect.

What this means if you have a workplace issue

More people than ever are taking formal action over workplace problems, and the system is under significant strain.

If you are considering your options, a few things are worth knowing. Time limits still apply: most claims must begin with ACAS early conciliation within three months minus one day of the issue. The backlog does not extend your deadline.

Most claims never reach a full hearing. According to the latest disposal data, around 91% of claims are resolved through ACAS conciliation, withdrawal, or settlement before a tribunal hearing takes place. Of those that do reach a hearing, 44% succeed — but very few claims get that far.

Starting with a clear understanding of your rights and the strength of your position can make a significant difference, whether you end up settling, going to tribunal, or resolving things informally.

For guidance on your specific situation, including eligibility and next steps, try our free assessment. Learn more about our claims packages, or create a free account to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many employment tribunal claims were filed in late 2025?

In Q3 2025/26 (October to December 2025, provisional), 10,424 single claims were filed, a 61% increase on the same quarter the previous year.

What is the most common type of employment tribunal claim?

Unfair dismissal is the most common, accounting for 53% of all single claims in Q3 2025/26, with 5,481 complaints filed. Disability discrimination is second at 33%, followed by unauthorised deductions from wages at 28%.

How long is the employment tribunal backlog?

The open caseload for single claims reached 30,784 at the end of Q3 2025/26 (provisional), a 167% increase year-on-year. The mean time to clear a case is currently 31 weeks, up from 19 weeks a year ago.

What is the fastest growing type of tribunal claim?

Whistleblowing (public interest disclosure) claims grew 102% year-on-year to 1,796 in Q3 2025/26. Disability discrimination grew 99%, nearly doubling to 3,481 complaints.

Will the Employment Rights Act 2025 increase tribunal claims?

It is expected to. The reduction in the unfair dismissal qualifying period from two years to six months (expected January 2027) could bring an estimated six million additional workers within scope. Extended time limits and removal of the compensation cap may also lead to more claims.

How many complaints does the average tribunal claim include?

The average claimant brings 2.2 jurisdictional complaints per claim. Most people raise more than one legal issue: unfair dismissal alongside breach of contract, or discrimination combined with unauthorised deductions from wages.

Sources

1. "Employment Tribunal Statistics, Tables ET_1_R, ET_2_R, ET_4_R", Ministry of Justice / HM Courts & Tribunals Service, Q3 2025/26 — GOV.UK Tribunals Statistics
2. Employment Rights Act 2025 — Employment Rights Bill 2025
3. "Employment Rights Act 2025", ACAS — ACAS: Employment Rights Bill

Related Guides

• What Actually Happens to Employment Tribunal Claims? The Real Outcomes
• Employment Tribunal Backlog Passes 30,000: What This Means for Your Claim
• What Will Happen in My Unfair Dismissal Case? The Data Behind 5,481 Claims
• Why Are Employment Tribunal Claims Struck Out?
• Unfair Dismissal: Is It Worth Going to Tribunal?