Employment tribunal backlogs have continued to increase, with the number of open single claims exceeding 70,000 and some hearings reportedly being listed as far ahead as 2029.
The latest employment tribunal statistics, covering April to June 2026, show that the number of open single cases increased by 9% during the quarter, reaching its highest recorded level.
During the same period, employment tribunals disposed of approximately 6,100 single claims. However, around 14,000 new claims entered the system, resulting in a further increase in the outstanding caseload.
The figures also show continued pressure from multiple cases. Around 500 lead multiple cases were received during the quarter, while approximately 380 were disposed of. By the end of June, the number of multiple cases stood at around 467,000.
The growing backlog has resulted in concerns about the time parties may have to wait before their disputes are heard. Reports indicate that some cases outside London are now being listed as far ahead as December 2029, although waiting times can vary considerably between different tribunal locations.
The pressure on the tribunal system could increase further as changes to employment law are expected to result in greater demand. The material provided for this report notes that the qualifying period for bringing most unfair dismissal claims is due to reduce from two years to six months.
The House of Lords Constitution Committee had previously highlighted concerns about the potential effect of increased claims and longer applicable time limits on existing tribunal backlogs and access to justice.
The government has indicated that additional judges, new case-management systems and greater use of remote hearings would be used to address increased demand.
With the number of new claims continuing to exceed the number of cases being disposed of, employment tribunal capacity and waiting times are likely to remain an important issue for employers and employees.
