The UK unemployment rate stood at 5.1% in the three months to November 2025, unchanged from the previous period and slightly above market expectations of 5.0%. The rate remained at its highest level since the three months to March 2021, as total unemployment rose by 103,000 from the previous quarter to 1.840 million, driven by increases among those unemployed for up to six months, 6–12 months, and over twelve months. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 82,000 to 34.303 million, supported mainly by higher employee numbers, while full-time self-employment declined and part-time self-employment grew. The number of people with second jobs rose slightly to 1.294 million, accounting for 3.8% of those employed. The employment rate remained unchanged at 75.1%, while the economic inactivity rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 20.8%. source: Office for National Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 5.10 percent in November. Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom averaged 6.64 percent from 1971 until 2025, 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 February of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 5.10 percent in November. Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom is expected to be 5.30 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
2025-12-16 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Oct 5.1% 5% 5.1% 5.1%
2026-01-20 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Nov 5.1% 5.1% 5% 5.1%
2026-02-17 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 5.1% 5.1%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.50 4.60 percent Nov 2025
Average Weekly Hours 31.80 31.90 Hours Nov 2025
Claimant Count Change 17.90 -3.30 Thousand Dec 2025
Employed Persons 34303.00 34226.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Employment Change 82.00 -16.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Employment Rate 75.10 74.90 percent Nov 2025
Full Time Employment 25537.00 25584.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Job Vacancies 734.00 728.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.20 79.00 percent Nov 2025
HMRC Payrolls Change -42.55 -33.36 Thousand Dec 2025
Part Time Employment 8766.00 8642.00 Thousand Nov 2025
Labour Productivity 99.70 99.00 points Sep 2025
Real Earnings Including Bonuses 1.20 0.90 percent Nov 2025
Unemployed Persons 1682.90 1662.80 Thousand Nov 2025
Unemployment Rate 5.10 5.10 percent Nov 2025
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.70 4.80 percent Nov 2025
Average Weekly Wages 741.00 740.00 GBP/Week Nov 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 808.00 805.00 GBP/Week Nov 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 13.70 13.40 percent Nov 2025


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
5.10 5.10 11.90 3.40 1971 - 2025 percent Monthly

News Stream
UK Jobless Rate Steady at Almost 5-Year High
The UK unemployment rate stood at 5.1% in the three months to November 2025, unchanged from the previous period and slightly above market expectations of 5.0%. The rate remained at its highest level since the three months to March 2021, as total unemployment rose by 103,000 from the previous quarter to 1.840 million, driven by increases among those unemployed for up to six months, 6–12 months, and over twelve months. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 82,000 to 34.303 million, supported mainly by higher employee numbers, while full-time self-employment declined and part-time self-employment grew. The number of people with second jobs rose slightly to 1.294 million, accounting for 3.8% of those employed. The employment rate remained unchanged at 75.1%, while the economic inactivity rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 20.8%.
2026-01-20
UK Jobless Rate Climbs to 4½-Year High
The UK unemployment rate increased to 5.1% in the three months to October 2025, in line with market expectations, up from 5.0% in the previous period. This was the highest level since the three months to March 2021, as total unemployment rose by 158,000 from the previous quarter to 1.832 million, driven mainly by increases among those unemployed for up to six months, 6–12 months, and over twelve months. Meanwhile, total employment fell by 16,000 to 34.226 million, marking the second consecutive quarterly decline, largely due to a drop in full-time positions. The number of people with second jobs rose slightly to 1.302 million, accounting for 3.8% of those employed. The employment rate edged down by 0.3 percentage points to 74.9%, while the activity rate remained unchanged at 79.0%.
2025-12-16
UK Unemployment Rises to 4-Year High
The UK unemployment rate increased to 5.0% in the third quarter of 2025, the highest level since the three months to May 2021 and slightly above market expectations of 4.9%. The number of unemployed individuals rose by 117,000 from the previous quarter to 1.789 million, driven mainly by increases among those out of work for up to six months or over twelve months. Meanwhile, total employment fell by 22,000 to 34.192 million, marking the first decline since the first quarter of 2024, largely due to a reduction in full-time positions. The number of people with second jobs rose slightly in the latest quarter to 1.33 million, accounting for 3.9% of those in work. The employment rate edged down by 0.1 percentage point to 75.0%, while the activity rate remained unchanged at 79.0%.
2025-11-11