Labor Force Participation Rate in the United Kingdom increased to 79.10 percent in May from 79 percent in April of 2026. Labor Force Participation Rate in the United Kingdom averaged 76.88 percent from 1971 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 79.70 percent in February of 2020 and a record low of 74.10 percent in April of 1983. source: Office for National Statistics

Labor Force Participation Rate in the United Kingdom is expected to be 78.90 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Economic Activity Rate is projected to trend around 79.00 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Weekly Hours 31.90 31.80 Hours May 2026
Claimant Count Change 6.70 1.30 Thousand Jun 2026
Employed Persons 34475.00 34411.00 Thousand May 2026
Employment Change 148.00 99.00 Thousand May 2026
Employment Rate 75.10 75.10 percent May 2026
Full Time Employment 25695.00 25664.00 Thousand May 2026
Job Vacancies 712.00 710.00 Thousand May 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.10 79.00 percent May 2026
Labour Costs 112.50 111.50 points Dec 2025
HMRC Payrolls Change -3.86 2.83 Thousand Jun 2026
Part Time Employment 8780.00 8748.00 Thousand May 2026
Population 69.49 69.28 Million Dec 2025
Labour Productivity 99.99 99.10 points Mar 2026
Unemployed Persons 1681.90 1680.60 Thousand May 2026
Unemployment Rate 4.90 4.90 percent May 2026
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.30 4.40 percent May 2026
Average Weekly Wages 749.00 754.00 GBP/Week May 2026
Wages in Manufacturing 812.00 823.00 GBP/Week May 2026
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.80 14.50 percent May 2026


United Kingdom Economic Activity Rate
The labour force participation rates is the number of persons who are employed and unemployed but looking for a job divided by the total working-age population.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
79.10 79.00 79.70 74.10 1971 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA