The UK unemployment rate fell to 4.7% in the three months to August 2026, defying market expectations that it would remain unchanged at 4.9% for the fifth consecutive period. This marked the lowest reading since the three months to July 2025, as the number of unemployed people declined by 47 thousand from the previous quarter to 1.712 million, driven by decreases in those unemployed for up to 6 months and between 6 and 12 months. Compared with the same period last year, the number of unemployed people fell by 26 thousand. Meanwhile, total employment rose by 102 thousand from the previous period and by 356 thousand from a year earlier to 34.577 million, while the employment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points both quarterly and annually to 75.3%. The number of people with second jobs increased in the latest quarter to 1.294 million, accounting for 3.7% of people in employment. Lastly, the inactivity rate edged down by 0.1 percentage point from the previous quarter to 20.9%. source: Office for National Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom decreased to 4.70 percent in August from 4.90 percent in July of 2026. Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom averaged 6.61 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 October of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom decreased to 4.70 percent in August from 4.90 percent in July 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 5.50 percent in 2027 and 5.20 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-15 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jul 4.9% 4.9% 5% 5.0%
2026-10-20 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Aug 4.7% 4.9% 4.9% 4.9%
2026-11-17 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Sep 4.7% 5.00%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 3.70 3.60 percent Aug 2026
Average Weekly Hours 32.00 32.00 Hours Aug 2026
Claimant Count Change 30.30 7.00 Thousand Sep 2026
Employed Persons 34577.00 34478.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Employment Change 102.00 66.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Employment Rate 75.30 75.10 percent Aug 2026
Full Time Employment 25865.00 25772.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Job Vacancies 691.00 704.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.10 79.10 percent Aug 2026
HMRC Payrolls Change 12.65 0.71 Thousand Sep 2026
Part Time Employment 8713.00 8705.00 Thousand Aug 2026
Labour Productivity 99.30 100.10 points Jun 2026
Real Earnings Including Bonuses -0.10 0.90 percent Aug 2026
Unemployed Persons 1670.70 1663.70 Thousand Aug 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.70 4.90 percent Aug 2026
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 3.70 3.90 percent Aug 2026
Average Weekly Wages 757.00 757.00 GBP/Week Aug 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 824.00 818.00 GBP/Week Aug 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 13.20 14.40 percent Aug 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
4.70 4.90 11.90 3.40 1971 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
UK Unemployment Rate Surprisingly Falls
The UK unemployment rate fell to 4.7% in the three months to August 2026, defying market expectations that it would remain unchanged at 4.9% for the fifth consecutive period. This marked the lowest reading since the three months to July 2025, as the number of unemployed people declined by 47 thousand from the previous quarter to 1.712 million, driven by decreases in those unemployed for up to 6 months and between 6 and 12 months. Compared with the same period last year, the number of unemployed people fell by 26 thousand. Meanwhile, total employment rose by 102 thousand from the previous period and by 356 thousand from a year earlier to 34.577 million, while the employment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points both quarterly and annually to 75.3%. The number of people with second jobs increased in the latest quarter to 1.294 million, accounting for 3.7% of people in employment. Lastly, the inactivity rate edged down by 0.1 percentage point from the previous quarter to 20.9%.
2026-10-20
UK Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Holds at 4.9%
The UK unemployment rate was unchanged for the fourth consecutive period at 4.9% in the three months to July 2026, defying expectations that it would rise to 5.0%. The number of unemployed people rose by 11 thousand from the previous quarter and by 83 thousand year-on-year to 1.778 million. The annual increase was driven by a rise in those unemployed for more than six months. Meanwhile, total employment rose by 66 thousand from the previous period to 34.478 million, as full-time employment increased by 109 thousand while part-time employment fell by 42 thousand. From a year earlier, total employment was up by 243 thousand, with both full-time and part-time employment increasing. The number of people holding second jobs increased in the latest quarter to 1.283 million, accounting for 3.7% of all employed individuals. Lastly, the inactivity rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from the previous quarter to 20.9%.
2026-09-15
UK Jobless Rate Steady at 4.9%
The UK unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.9% in the three months to June 2026, defying expectations for a decline to 4.8%, as firms delayed hiring amid uncertainty over domestic and global developments. The number of unemployed people fell by 36 thousand to 1.772 million, driven by a decrease in those unemployed for up to six months. However, unemployment was up by 88 thousand from a year earlier, reflecting an increase in those unemployed for between six and 12 months. Meanwhile, total employment rose by 84 thousand to 34.469 million, following a 147 thousand increase in the previous period, and was up by 253 thousand year-on-year. In April–June, full- and part-time employment rose from a year earlier, driven by increases in full-time employees and part-time self-employed workers. The number of people holding second jobs increased to 1.293 million, accounting for 3.8% of all employed individuals.
2026-08-18