The UK unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in the three months to February 2026, defying expectations of it remaining at the previous period’s 5.2%. The decline in unemployment coincided with a rise in economic inactivity, indicating that some Britons are leaving the workforce rather than finding new jobs. Unemployment decreased by 60,000 to 1.780 million, mainly among those out of work for less than six months. Meanwhile, 95,000 more people, including an increasing number of students, exited the labor market, driving total inactivity to 9.116 million and lifting the inactivity rate by 0.2 percentage points to 21.0%. Total employment grew by 24,000 to 34.328 million, pushing the employment rate up by 0.1 percentage points to 75.0%, largely due to an increase in full-time employment. Additionally, the number of people holding second jobs decreased to 1.273 million, accounting for 3.7% of all employed individuals. source: Office for National Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom decreased to 4.90 percent in February from 5.20 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom averaged 6.63 percent from 1971 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 11.90 percent in April of 1984 and a record low of 3.40 percent in December of 1973. This page provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United Kingdom Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom decreased to 4.90 percent in February from 5.20 percent in January of 2026. Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom is expected to be 5.20 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.80 percent in 2027 and 4.50 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-19 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 5.2% 5.2% 5.3% 5.2%
2026-04-21 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 4.9% 5.2% 5.2% 5.2%
2026-05-13 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 4.9% 5.3%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 3.60 3.80 percent Feb 2026
Average Weekly Hours 31.70 31.80 Hours Feb 2026
Claimant Count Change 26.80 17.10 Thousand Mar 2026
Employed Persons 34328.00 34310.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Employment Change 25.00 84.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Employment Rate 75.00 75.10 percent Feb 2026
Full Time Employment 25584.00 25523.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Job Vacancies 711.00 721.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.00 79.30 percent Feb 2026
HMRC Payrolls Change -11.00 -5.66 Thousand Mar 2026
Part Time Employment 8743.00 8787.00 Thousand Feb 2026
Labour Productivity 99.00 99.60 points Dec 2025
Real Earnings Including Bonuses 0.30 1.50 percent Feb 2026
Unemployed Persons 1667.40 1650.30 Thousand Feb 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.90 5.20 percent Feb 2026
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 3.80 4.10 percent Feb 2026
Average Weekly Wages 745.00 743.00 GBP/Week Feb 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 814.00 810.00 GBP/Week Feb 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.30 14.50 percent Feb 2026


United Kingdom Unemployment Rate
In the United Kingdom, the headline unemployment rate is the number of unemployed people (aged 16+) divided by the economically active population (aged 16+).
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.90 5.20 11.90 3.40 1971 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
UK Jobless Rate Surprisingly Falls
The UK unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in the three months to February 2026, defying expectations of it remaining at the previous period’s 5.2%. The decline in unemployment coincided with a rise in economic inactivity, indicating that some Britons are leaving the workforce rather than finding new jobs. Unemployment decreased by 60,000 to 1.780 million, mainly among those out of work for less than six months. Meanwhile, 95,000 more people, including an increasing number of students, exited the labor market, driving total inactivity to 9.116 million and lifting the inactivity rate by 0.2 percentage points to 21.0%. Total employment grew by 24,000 to 34.328 million, pushing the employment rate up by 0.1 percentage points to 75.0%, largely due to an increase in full-time employment. Additionally, the number of people holding second jobs decreased to 1.273 million, accounting for 3.7% of all employed individuals.
2026-04-21
UK Jobless Rate Steady at 5.2%
The UK unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.2% in the three months to January 2026, below expectations of 5.3% but still at its highest level since the three months to February 2021. Total unemployment rose by 37 thousand quarter-on-quarter to 1.869 million, driven by increases among those unemployed for 6–12 months and over 12 months. Compared with the same period last year, unemployment was up by 323 thousand. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 84 thousand to 34.310 million, pushing the employment rate up by 0.2 percentage points to 75.1%. The number of people holding second jobs remained largely unchanged at 1.302 million, representing 3.8% of those in employment. The economic inactivity rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 20.7%, with the number of inactive individuals decreasing by 99 thousand to 8.999 million.
2026-03-19
UK Jobless Rate Hits Nearly 5-Year High
The UK unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in the three months to December 2025, slightly above market expectations, which had forecast it would remain unchanged at 5.1% from the previous period. This marks its highest level since the three months to February 2021. Total unemployment increased by 94 thousand quarter-on-quarter to 1.883 million, driven by rises in the number of people unemployed for up to 6 months, between 6 and 12 months, and over 12 months. Meanwhile, total employment rose by 52 thousand to 34.244 million, although the employment rate edged down by 0.1 percentage points to 75.0%. The number of people with second jobs decreased marginally to 1.287 million, accounting for 3.8% of those employed. The economic inactivity rate declined by 0.1 percentage points to 20.8%, with the number of inactive individuals falling by 38 thousand to 9.042 million.
2026-02-17