jobfacts

Sports players

SOC 2020 3431

Professional sportsmen and women train and compete, either individually or as part of a team, in their chosen sport for financial gain.

Also calledAthleteTrack and field athleteJockeyGymnastProfessionalRacing driverand 14 more titles
People in the job13,000across the UK
Demand for workersNot high
New adverts a month178↓ 12%on last year · 352nd of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
Typical pay by regionUK median —
North EastNot published by ONS–
North WestNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
South EastNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
ScotlandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
Show as table
UK median, —
North EastNot published by ONS
North WestNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
South EastNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
ScotlandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 178 jobs for sports players are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as not high.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (1 in all)
Show as table
Aug 2026119
Jul 2026123
Jun 2026157
May 2026115
Apr 2026292
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 2026231
Jan 2026180
Dec 2025136
Nov 2025199
Oct 2025228
Sept 2025175
Aug 2025380
Jul 2025221
Jun 2025244
May 2025270
Apr 2025194
Mar 2025183
Feb 2025155
Jan 2025174
Dec 202499
Nov 2024158
Oct 2024188
Sept 2024143
Aug 2024132
Jul 2024178
Jun 2024184
May 2024187
Apr 2024193
Mar 2024158
Feb 2024187
Jan 2024247
Dec 2023159
Nov 2023140
Oct 2023174
Sept 2023178
Aug 2023161
Jul 2023204
Jun 2023219
May 2023223
Apr 2023167
Mar 2023187
Feb 2023254
Jan 2023320
Dec 2022200
Nov 2022262
Oct 2022370
Sept 2022315
Aug 2022352
Jul 2022337
Jun 2022346
May 2022292
Apr 2022232
Mar 2022326
Feb 2022210
Jan 2022342
Dec 2021242
Nov 2021237
Oct 2021263
Sept 2021307
Aug 2021271
Jul 2021248
Jun 2021216
May 2021218
Apr 2021168
Mar 2021228
Feb 2021121
Jan 2021139
Dec 2020124
Nov 2020133
Oct 2020162
Sept 2020115
Aug 2020177
Jul 2020107
Jun 202062
May 202066
Apr 202088
Mar 2020163
Feb 2020274
Jan 2020216
Dec 2019171
Nov 2019219
Oct 2019221
Sept 2019164
Aug 2019205
Jul 2019205
Jun 2019175
May 2019243
Apr 2019143
Mar 2019161
Feb 2019128
Jan 2019295
Dec 2018132
Nov 2018211
Oct 2018174
Sept 2018184
Aug 2018269
Jul 2018461
Jun 2018442
May 2018291
Apr 2018141
Mar 2018188
Feb 2018198
Jan 2018160
Dec 201792
Nov 2017111
Oct 2017128
Sept 2017128
Aug 2017140
Jul 2017160
Jun 2017165
May 2017362
Apr 2017261
Mar 2017216
Feb 2017196
Jan 2017182
Is there a shortage of sports players?
Not high

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment.

  • Visas grantedUsual
  • Online job advertsUsual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedAbove usual
Note: uncertain in multiple indicators: change in hours worked, change in hourly wage, visa density.
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
29%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for sports and fitness occupations, which includes sports players. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London78
Somerset16
Manchester16
Cornwall12
Birmingham12
Leeds11
County Durham9
City of Edinburgh9
Bristol, City of8
North Northamptonshire8
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where sports players are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 979 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, ranking it 19th of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
WomenToo few in the survey to give a reliable figure
Age of sports players
46%!
54%!
n/p
n/p
n/p
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
Show as table
16–2446% (small sample)
25–3454% (small sample)
35–44Not published
45–54Not published
55–64Not published
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!40%
Higher education below degree–
Not published
A levels or equivalent!23%
GCSEs or equivalent!36%
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent40% (small sample)
Higher education below degreeNot published
A levels or equivalent23% (small sample)
GCSEs or equivalent36% (small sample)

Main employers: activities of sport clubs (67%), other sports activities (30%), operation of sports facilities (6.1%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
40%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
1
from level 3
Apprenticeships take
18 months
typically

Routes in

Athlete

You can get into this career through:

University

You can apply to do a course at university in the usual way through UCAS and join your university’s athletics performance programme, where one is available.

You may be able to apply for a university sports scholarship, if you’ve competed at club, regional or national level and have shown the potential to go further.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do a sports related apprenticeship, which would allow you to develop your athletics career while gaining skills to work in the sport and leisure industry.

Apprenticeships include:

  • Community Activator Coach Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Community Sport and Health Officer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
Entry requirements

To get onto an apprenticeship, you'll find it useful to have:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Other routes

The first step to becoming a professional athlete is to join an athletics club. You would work with qualified coaches to develop your skills and compete at a level appropriate to your age and stage of development.

There are several athletics programmes that support individuals to achieve their potential.

The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme allows you to study for a qualification at college or university, while you continue your sporting development. You must be 16 or over, and be performing at a high level. You are nominated for a place by UK Athletics, the national governing body.

You may be able to join the Para Academy, if you have the potential to compete at national and international paralympic level.

England Athletics has more information on pathways from junior and youth programmes through to senior and world class levels.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

You are likely to travel a lot to compete in athletics events, including overseas for international championships.

Further information

You can get more details about how to become an athlete from British Athletics and UK Athletics.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for athlete. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Jockey

You can get into this job through:

Apprenticeship

The first step to a racing apprenticeship is to apply for a residential foundation course - riding pathway. The course is designed to see if you have the potential to succeed and for you to decide if this is what you want to do.

The residential training lasts from 12 to 18 weeks and covers how to look after and ride racehorses, alongside health and safety. Training takes place at the National Horseracing College and The British Racing School.

If you do well, you may be offered the opportunity to work in a racing stable and get a place on an Equine Groom Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship (Racing option). You could then go on to do a Senior Equine Groom Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship (Racing option).

Entry requirements

You can apply if you're aged 16 or over.

There are no qualification requirements. You'll study English and maths on the course if you do not have GCSEs in those subjects.

You must weigh under 11 or 12 stone (70 or 76kg), depending on how well you can ride.

Work your way up

If you're already working in a racing yard, for instance as a stable hand, you could talk to your employer about applying for the foundation course and racing apprenticeship programme.

Other routes

You may be able to move into professional racing if you've got experience as an amateur jockey. You would need to complete training to get a professional racing licence.

What you’ll need

  • be over 16 years of age
  • pass a medical check
  • pass a fitness test

All jockeys need to pass a licence course and renew their licence every year.

Amateur riders need to get an Amateur Rider Permit.

You also have to meet strict weight requirements which vary depending on whether you're a flat racing or jump jockey.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

If you're a young person, you can get an idea of what it's like to race by attending a taster day at your local pony club. The Pony Racing Authority puts on training and races for riders of all abilities.

Jockey salaries vary and depend on a number of factors, including:

  • race fees
  • share of race prizemoney
  • sponsorship deals
  • deductions and expenses
Further information

You can find out more about training and working as a jockey from:

  • The British Racing School
  • careersinracing
  • The Jockey Club

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for jockey. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Apprenticeships

1 for this job
Level 3About 18 months

Sporting excellence professional

Employers may ask for
Employers will set their own entry requirements and will need to be registered with the National Governing Body and/or Leagues relevant to the professional…
Details on Skills England

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • participates in exhibitions, pre-qualifying events, tournaments and competitions
  • attends training sessions to develop skills and practice individual or team moves and tactics
  • builds stamina, physical strength and agility through running, fitness exercises and weight training
  • maintains clothing and other specialised sporting equipment
  • discusses performance problems with coaches, physiotherapists, dieticians and doctors

Skills

  • adapt lifestyle to perform at the highest level in sport
  • apply sport games rules
  • assess performance in sport events
  • develop strong attitudes in sports
  • implement relevant tactical skills to perform at the highest level in sport
  • implement relevant technical skills to perform at the highest level in sport
  • manage sporting career
  • participate in sport events
  • work to develop physical ability to perform at the highest level in sport
  • communicate with media
  • manage personal finances
  • set up effective working relationships with other sports players

Suits people who like

  • Practical, hands-on work
  • Leading and persuading

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for culture, media and sports occupations, a group of 13 jobs that includes sports players.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 10%about 79,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035442,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.