The UK's public relations sector generated an estimated £7.1 billion in economic value and supported more than 95,000 jobs in 2025, according to a new report commissioned by the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA), marking what the association says is the first independent effort to quantify the industry's contribution to the British economy.Titled "Beyond Communications: Understanding the Economic Contribution of the UK Public Relations Sector," the study was conducted independently by CBI Economics and supported by eight major communications firms—Burson, Edelman, FINN Partners, FleishmanHillard, Hanover Communications, Golin, Ketchum, Penta and Portland.The report highlights the growing role of public relations as a strategic business function, arguing that the profession has evolved well beyond traditional media relations to encompass corporate advisory, public affairs, reputation management, crisis communications, stakeholder engagement and executive counsel.£4 Billion in Direct Economic OutputUsing a bespoke industry taxonomy developed with input from PRCA members and machine learning analysis by The Data City, the report estimates that UK PR agencies and consultancies generated £4 billion in direct Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2025. Including indirect economic activity through supply chains and employee spending, the sector's total economic contribution rises to £7.1 billion.The analysis covers agency and consultancy businesses only and excludes communications professionals working in-house across corporations, government departments, charities and public sector organisations, suggesting the profession's overall economic impact is likely to be significantly higher.High-Value EmploymentAccording to the report, the PR sector directly employs more than 52,000 professionals, while its broader economic footprint supports 95,464 full-time equivalent jobs across the UK.The study found that every £1 generated directly by PR businesses creates an additional 77 pence elsewhere in the economy through supply-chain activity and consumer spending.The profession also ranks among the UK's higher-productivity knowledge industries. Average annual salaries are estimated at £46,003—around 18% above the national average—while each employee generates approximately £77,628 in GVA, placing the sector alongside legal and accounting services in terms of productivity.Industry Growth Beyond LondonWhile London remains the UK's largest PR hub, contributing approximately £2.9 billion in GVA and supporting more than 26,000 jobs, the report notes that the industry has become increasingly decentralised.Every UK region now contributes more than £100 million in economic value, with significant communications clusters emerging in Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bristol.PR Increasingly Seen as Strategic Advisory FunctionThe report argues that traditional government industry classifications no longer accurately capture the modern communications sector because many firms operate across PR, strategic consultancy, marketing and public affairs.It also suggests that communications professionals are playing a growing role in advising senior executives on organisational strategy, public policy, employee engagement, corporate reputation and stakeholder trust.PRCA Calls for Greater RecognitionPRCA Chief Executive Sarah Waddington described the findings as a milestone for the profession."This report proves that public relations and public affairs are not peripheral functions—they are engines of economic value, trust and influence across the UK."At £7.1 billion and more than 95,000 jobs, our sector is making a major contribution to national prosperity. But its real power goes beyond the numbers. PR and public affairs help organisations navigate complexity, build confidence, shape policy, protect reputation and create the trust that modern economies depend on."She added that the findings reinforce the case for viewing PR as a strategic management discipline rather than simply a communications service, particularly at a time when organisations face increasing challenges around misinformation, AI, geopolitical uncertainty and declining public trust.Measuring the Modern PR IndustryAdriana Curca, Director at CBI Economics, said one of the biggest challenges was accurately defining today's PR sector.She noted that conventional economic classifications fail to reflect the industry's multidisciplinary nature, prompting researchers to develop a new taxonomy based on the actual services communications firms provide.According to the report, PR professionals generate around 55% more economic value per employee than the average worker across the UK's wider creative industries, underlining the sector's role as a high-value professional services industry.Trust and Reputation Driving Business ValueAlongside the report, the PRCA has published a briefing paper arguing that organisations should increasingly evaluate public relations as a driver of enterprise value rather than as a discretionary communications expense.The association contends that reputation, stakeholder trust and strategic communications have become increasingly important as businesses navigate AI-driven disruption, misinformation, regulatory scrutiny and geopolitical uncertainty.PRCA Honorary President Charles Lewington, in an accompanying opinion piece, described the UK's communications industry as "a very British success story," arguing that the country has evolved into a global leader in strategic communications consultancy through decades of innovation, entrepreneurship and industry consolidation.The report is expected to fuel wider discussions about how the communications industry measures and demonstrates its value, particularly as PR leaders seek a stronger voice in corporate decision-making and boardroom strategy.