The UK unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in the three months to March 2026, above expectations and February’s 4.9%. The reading marked the first set of figures for the opening month of the US–Iran war, which added pressure to business costs and hiring conditions. Despite the higher rate, the number of unemployed people fell by 77,000 to 1.806 million, mainly driven by declines among those unemployed for up to six months and those out of work for between six and 12 months. Compared with the same period last year, however, unemployment increased by 192,000, with all unemployment durations rising. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 148,000 to 34.392 million, topping expectations of a 107,000 rise, and was up 416,000 on the year, supported by gains in both full-time and part-time work among employees and the self-employed. The number of people holding second jobs declined in the latest quarter to 1.275 million, accounting for 3.7% of all employed individuals. source: Office for National Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom increased to 5 percent in March from 4.90 percent in February 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 May of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom increased to 5 percent in March from 4.90 percent in February 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
2026-04-21 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 4.9% 5.2% 5.2% 5.2%
2026-05-19 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 5% 4.9% 4.9% 4.9%
2026-06-18 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 5%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 3.40 3.60 percent Mar 2026
Average Weekly Hours 31.70 31.70 Hours Mar 2026
Claimant Count Change 26.50 4.90 Thousand Apr 2026
Employed Persons 34392.00 34328.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Change 148.00 24.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Rate 75.00 75.00 percent Mar 2026
Full Time Employment 25642.00 25584.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Job Vacancies 705.00 712.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.10 79.00 percent Mar 2026
HMRC Payrolls Change -99.96 -28.22 Thousand Apr 2026
Part Time Employment 8750.00 8743.00 Thousand Mar 2026
Labour Productivity 99.99 99.10 points Mar 2026
Real Earnings Including Bonuses 0.30 0.60 percent Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 1672.40 1667.40 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 5.00 4.90 percent Mar 2026
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.10 3.90 percent Mar 2026
Average Weekly Wages 749.00 746.00 GBP/Week Mar 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 819.00 816.00 GBP/Week Mar 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.70 14.30 percent Mar 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
5.00 4.90 11.90 3.40 1971 - 2026 percent Monthly

News Stream
UK Jobless Rate Rises to 5%
The UK unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in the three months to March 2026, above expectations and February’s 4.9%. The reading marked the first set of figures for the opening month of the US–Iran war, which added pressure to business costs and hiring conditions. Despite the higher rate, the number of unemployed people fell by 77,000 to 1.806 million, mainly driven by declines among those unemployed for up to six months and those out of work for between six and 12 months. Compared with the same period last year, however, unemployment increased by 192,000, with all unemployment durations rising. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 148,000 to 34.392 million, topping expectations of a 107,000 rise, and was up 416,000 on the year, supported by gains in both full-time and part-time work among employees and the self-employed. The number of people holding second jobs declined in the latest quarter to 1.275 million, accounting for 3.7% of all employed individuals.
2026-05-19
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