The United Kingdom's unemployment rate fell to 4.1% from May to July 2024, down from 4.2% in the previous three-month period, aligning with market expectations. This marked the lowest level since the three months ending in January, as the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 74 thousand to 1.44 million. During this period, the number of people unemployed for up to 12 months declined, falling below the levels last year, while those unemployed for over 12 months also decreased but remained above the estimates from a year ago. Meanwhile, the number of employed individuals surged by 265 thousand, the highest increase in over a year and a half, reaching 33.23 million, primarily due to a rise in full-time employment. The number of people with second jobs also increased during the quarter, accounting for 3.9% of all employed individuals. Lastly, the economic inactivity rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 21.9%. source: Office for National Statistics

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom decreased to 4.10 percent in July from 4.20 percent in June of 2024. Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom averaged 6.69 percent from 1971 until 2024, 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 September of 2024.

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom decreased to 4.10 percent in July from 4.20 percent in June of 2024. Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom is expected to be 4.60 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 5.20 percent in 2025 and 5.10 percent in 2026, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2024-08-13 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jun 4.2% 4.4% 4.5% 4.4%
2024-09-10 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jul 4.1% 4.2% 4.1% 4.2%
2024-10-15 06:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Aug 4.1% 4.6%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average Earnings excl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 5.10 5.40 percent Jul 2024
Average Weekly Hours 31.90 32.00 Hours Jul 2024
Claimant Count Change 23.70 102.30 Thousand Aug 2024
Employed Persons 33232.00 33094.00 Thousand Jul 2024
Employment Change 265.00 97.00 Thousand Jul 2024
Employment Rate 74.80 74.50 percent Jul 2024
Full Time Employment 24909.00 24803.00 Thousand Jul 2024
Job Vacancies 857.00 872.00 Thousand Jul 2024
Labor Force Participation Rate 78.10 77.80 percent Jul 2024
HMRC Payrolls Change -58.57 -6.20 Thousand Aug 2024
Part Time Employment 8323.00 8291.00 Thousand Jul 2024
Labour Productivity 101.80 102.00 points Mar 2024
Real Earnings Including Bonuses 0.80 0.30 percent Jul 2024
Unemployed Persons 1792.40 1768.70 Thousand Aug 2024
Unemployment Rate 4.10 4.20 percent Jul 2024
Average Earnings incl. Bonus (3Mo/Yr) 4.00 4.60 percent Jul 2024
Wages 689.00 689.00 GBP/Week Jul 2024
Wages in Manufacturing 756.00 763.00 GBP/Week Jul 2024
Youth Unemployment Rate 13.30 12.00 percent Jul 2024

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
4.10 4.20 11.90 3.40 1971 - 2024 percent Monthly


News Stream
UK Jobless Rate Falls to 4.1%
The United Kingdom's unemployment rate fell to 4.1% from May to July 2024, down from 4.2% in the previous three-month period, aligning with market expectations. This marked the lowest level since the three months ending in January, as the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 74 thousand to 1.44 million. During this period, the number of people unemployed for up to 12 months declined, falling below the levels last year, while those unemployed for over 12 months also decreased but remained above the estimates from a year ago. Meanwhile, the number of employed individuals surged by 265 thousand, the highest increase in over a year and a half, reaching 33.23 million, primarily due to a rise in full-time employment. The number of people with second jobs also increased during the quarter, accounting for 3.9% of all employed individuals. Lastly, the economic inactivity rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 21.9%.
2024-09-10
UK Jobless Rate Down to 4.2%
The United Kingdom’s unemployment rate fell to 4.2% from April to June 2024, down from a two-and-a-half-year high of 4.4% in the previous period and below market forecasts of 4.5%. The number of unemployed individuals decreased by 51 thousand to a total of 1.44 million, driven by declines in those unemployed for up to 6 months, bringing the figure below last year’s levels. Additionally, the number of individuals unemployed for over 6 months and up to 12 months, as well as those unemployed for over 12 months, also declined but remained above last year’s estimates. Meanwhile, the number of employed individuals increased by 97 thousand to 33.1 million, mainly due to a rise in part-time employees and self-employed workers, partially offset by a decrease in full-time employees. The number of people in employment with second jobs also rose during the period, accounting for 3.8% of all employed individuals. Lastly, the economic inactivity rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 22.2%.
2024-08-13
UK Jobless Rate Steady at 2-½-Year High
The United Kingdom’s unemployment rate stood at 4.4% from March to May 2024, unchanged from the previous three-month period and aligning with market expectations. It remained at its highest reading since the three months to September 2021, as the number of unemployed individuals rose by 88 thousand to a total of 1.53 million, driven by those unemployed for up to 6 months, which remained above levels from a year ago. Also, those unemployed for over 6 and up to 12 months and those over 12 months had increased in the latest period. Meanwhile, the number of employed individuals rose by 19 thousand to 33.0 million, mainly due to a rise in part-time employees and full-time self-employed workers. Additionally, the number of people in employment with second jobs went up during the period, accounting for 3.8% of all employed individuals. Finally, the economic inactivity rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 22.1%.
2024-07-18