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. source: Office for National Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom increased to 5.20 percent in December from 5.10 percent in November of 2025. 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 increased to 5.20 percent in December from 5.10 percent in November of 2025. 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
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 5.2% 5.1% 5.1% 5.1%
2026-03-19 07:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 5.2% 5.2%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.20 4.40 percent Dec 2025
Average Weekly Hours 31.90 31.80 Hours Dec 2025
Claimant Count Change 28.60 2.70 Thousand Jan 2026
Employed Persons 34244.00 34303.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Change 52.00 82.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Employment Rate 75.00 75.10 percent Dec 2025
Full Time Employment 25499.00 25537.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Job Vacancies 726.00 736.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Labor Force Participation Rate 79.20 79.20 percent Dec 2025
HMRC Payrolls Change -10.56 -5.65 Thousand Jan 2026
Part Time Employment 8745.00 8766.00 Thousand Dec 2025
Labour Productivity 99.00 99.60 points Dec 2025
Real Earnings Including Bonuses -0.40 1.00 percent Dec 2025
Unemployed Persons 1662.20 1659.50 Thousand Dec 2025
Unemployment Rate 5.20 5.10 percent Dec 2025
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.20 4.60 percent Dec 2025
Average Weekly Wages 735.00 740.00 GBP/Week Dec 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 810.00 807.00 GBP/Week Dec 2025
Youth Unemployment Rate 14.00 13.70 percent Dec 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
5.20 5.10 11.90 3.40 1971 - 2025 percent Monthly

News Stream
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
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