Public relations and communication sector contributes £7.1bn to UK economy

A new report launched yesterday by the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) shows that the PR and communication sector contributes £7.1 bn to the UK economy and supports nearly 95,000 jobs, directly employing 52,000 people.

Beyond Communications: Understanding the economic contribution of the UK public relations sector, finds that public relations should be understood not simply as a communication discipline but as a strategic capability that enables wider economic and societal outcomes. Alongside the study, PRCA has published a briefing paper setting out why organisations should invest in public relations and public affairs to build trust, enterprise value and social impact.

The report demonstrates that public relations is a significant, high-value sector spanning modern communication, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, reputation management, crisis preparedness, investor relations and strategic advisory work. ​

The headline findings show that:

• PR businesses generate £4.0 billion in direct Gross Value Added (GVA), with a further £3.1 billion supported through supply chains and employee spending.

• For every £1 generated directly by PR businesses, another 77p is created elsewhere in the economy.

• The sector directly employs more than 52,000 people, with wider activity supporting 95,464 jobs.

• It is a high-wage, high-productivity industry, with average wages estimated at £46,003, around 18% higher than the UK average, and £77,628 in GVA generated per FTE job.

This research underlines what our industry has long known (and some of us have long advocated for us to change up how we value ourselves!): public relations is not simply a “communications function”. It is a strategic capability and opportunity that supports growth, confidence and better outcomes for organisations, government and society.

The real value of strategic public relations and communication has never been measured in column inches, social media impressions or even economic output. It's measured in the confidence to invest, the trust to collaborate, the ability to navigate change and the relationships that determine whether projects succeed or fail.

Every major challenge facing the UK today—whether it's infrastructure, energy security, defence, housing, AI or economic growth—depends on people understanding, engaging with and supporting change. Technology doesn't achieve that. Policy alone doesn't achieve that. Communication does.

I’ll finish with this. Perhaps it's time we stopped asking, "What's the value of public relations?" and started asking a different question:

What is the cost to organisations, governments and society when strategic communication isn't around the table?