Employment tribunal backlog figures continue to grow
updated on 17 June 2025
Reading time: one minute
Employment tribunal backlogs are continuing to spiral at an alarming rate, according to new figures, with the number of open cases hitting 491,000 at the end of March 2025 – up 11% from March 2023 (444,000).
It was previously reported that following the introduction of new workers’ rights in the Employment Rights Bill, the employment tribunal backlog had risen by a significant 28% over 2023/24.
In 2024/25, HM Courts & Tribunals Service recorded an 11% increase in new cases but a 9% decrease in completed or resolved cases compared to 2023/24. As such, the backlog of open unresolved cases grew by 14% to 745,000 by March 2025.
Chair of the Employment Lawyers Association, Caspar Glyn KC, said: “The evidence is clear. The tribunal cannot cope with the rising tide of employment litigation.”
Law Society President Richard Atkinson stated: “It is alarming to see the employment tribunal backlogs continue to spiral.” Atkinson also stressed the consequences of this backlog, suggesting that “prolonged periods of uncertainty as cases are waiting to be heard is likely to take a high toll personally and financially, hitting both individuals and businesses hard”.
Atkinson added: “As the Employment Bill goes through parliament, the government must ensure that employment tribunals are properly funded and resourced to respond to an even bigger anticipated caseload increase. Swift justice is a vital public service, not a luxury.”
If you’re interested in learning more about some of the current key issues in the UK legal landscape, as well as recent cases and mergers, read our guide to the legal profession 2024/25 to keep yourself in the know.
