United Kingdom Unemployment Rate  1971-2017 | Data | Chart | Calendar

UK unemployment rate declined to 4.3 percent in the three months to July of 2017 from 4.6 percent in the February to April period and below market expectations of 4.4 percent. It was the lowest jobless rate since the three months to May of 1975, as the number of unemployed continued to fall. Meanwhile, the employment rate rose to a new all-time high of 75.3 percent. Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom averaged 7.09 percent from 1971 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 12 percent in February of 1984 and a record low of 3.40 percent in November of 1973.

United Kingdom Unemployment Rate
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UK Unemployment Rate Drops to Lowest Since 1975


UK unemployment rate declined to 4.3 percent in the three months to July of 2017 from 4.6 percent in the February to April period and below market expectations of 4.4 percent. It was the lowest jobless rate since the three months to May of 1975, as the number of unemployed continued to fall.

There were 1.46 million unemployed people, 75,000 fewer than for February to April 2017 and 175,000 fewer than for a year earlier. The unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, down from 4.9 percent for a year earlier and the lowest since 1975.

There were 32.14 million people in work, 181,000 more than for February to April 2017 and 379,000 more than for a year earlier. The employment rate was 75.3 percent, the highest since comparable records began in 1971.

There were 8.74 million people aged from 16 to 64 who were economically inactive, 107,000 fewer than for February to April 2017 and 96,000 fewer than for a year earlier. The inactivity rate was 21.2 percent, down from 21.6 percent for a year earlier and the lowest since comparable records began in 1971.

Latest estimates show that average weekly earnings for employees in the UK in nominal terms (that is, not adjusted for price inflation) increased by 2.1 percent, both including and excluding bonuses, compared with a year earlier. In real terms (that is, adjusted for price inflation), average weekly earnings fell by 0.4 percent, both including and excluding bonuses, compared with a year earlier.

ONS | Joana Ferreira | joana.ferreira@tradingeconomics.com
9/13/2017 8:37:57 AM


Recent Releases

UK Unemployment Rate Falls to New 42-Year Low
UK unemployment rate dropped to a fresh 42-year low of 4.4 percent in the three months to June of 2017, beating market expectations of 4.5 percent. The employment rate rose to an all-time high of 75.1 percent as the number of people in work rose by 125 thousand.
Published on 2017-08-16

UK Jobless Rate Falls To 4.5%, Lowest Since 1975
The unemployment rate in the UK fell to 4.5 percent in the three months to May of 2017, below 4.6 percent in the previous period and market forecasts of 4.6 percent. It is the lowest jobless rate since June of 1975. Earnings including bonuses rose 1.8 percent year-on-year, the weakest gain since the three months to November 2014. Adjusted for inflation, pay growth fell 0.7 percent, the sharpest drop since 2014.
Published on 2017-07-12

UK Jobless Rate Steady At 4.6%
UK unemployment rate held at a 42-year low of 4.6 percent in the three months to April 2017, in line with market expectations. The employment rate remained at an all-time high of 74.8 percent, as the number of people in work went up by 109 thousand. Meanwhile, total pay adjusted for price inflation decreased by 0.4 percent from the previous year, the biggest drop since the three months to September 2014.
Published on 2017-06-14

UK Jobless Rate Hits 42-Year Low
UK unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent in the three months to March 2017 from 4.7 percent in the previous period and below market expectations of 4.7 percent. It was the lowest jobless rate since July of 1975. The employment rate rose to a fresh all-time high of 74.8 percent, as the number of people in work went up by 122 thousand. Meanwhile, excluding the bonuses, pay adjusted for price inflation decreased by 0.2 percent from the previous year, the first decline since the third quarter of 2014.
Published on 2017-05-17



Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2017-07-12 08:30 AM Unemployment Rate 4.5% 4.6% 4.6% 4.6%
2017-08-16 08:30 AM Unemployment Rate 4.4% 4.5% 4.5% 4.5%
2017-09-13 08:30 AM Unemployment Rate 4.3% 4.4% 4.4% 4.4%
2017-10-18 08:30 AM Unemployment Rate 4.3% 4.4%
2017-11-15 09:30 AM Unemployment Rate 4.5%
2017-12-13 09:30 AM Unemployment Rate 4.5%


United Kingdom Labour Last Previous Highest Lowest Unit
Unemployment Rate 4.30 4.40 12.00 3.40 percent [+]
Employed Persons 30974.00 30906.00 30974.00 23187.00 Thousand [+]
Unemployed Persons 806.30 809.10 3090.00 422.60 Thousand [+]
Part Time Employment 8540.00 8492.00 8583.00 5995.00 Thousand [+]
Full Time Employment 23596.00 23581.00 23596.00 19136.00 Thousand [+]
Employment Rate 75.30 75.10 75.30 65.60 percent [+]
Claimant Count Change -2.80 -2.90 142.80 -98.50 Thousand [+]
Labor Force Participation Rate 78.80 78.70 78.80 74.10 percent [+]
Long Term Unemployment Rate 1.20 1.20 4.30 0.90 percent [+]
Youth Unemployment Rate 11.80 12.10 22.30 9.70 percent [+]
Labour Costs 102.90 102.60 103.00 20.70 Index Points [+]
Productivity 101.80 102.40 102.40 44.60 Index Points [+]
Job Vacancies 774.00 768.00 777.00 432.00 Thousand [+]
Wages 505.00 505.00 505.00 300.00 GBP/Week [+]
Wage Growth 2.10 2.10 6.60 -2.60 percent [+]
Wages in Manufacturing 588.00 585.00 588.00 356.00 GBP/Week [+]
Minimum Wages 7.50 7.20 7.50 5.05 GBP/Hour [+]
Population 65.81 65.38 65.81 52.20 Million [+]
Retirement Age Women 63.50 63.00 63.50 60.00 [+]
Retirement Age Men 65.00 65.00 65.00 65.00 [+]
Wages Low Skilled 1190.00 1220.00 1260.00 1160.00 GBP/Month [+]
Wages High Skilled 2140.00 2190.00 2190.00 2040.00 GBP/Month [+]
Living Wage Family 1152.50 1141.20 1152.50 1006.10 GBP/Month [+]
Living Wage Individual 1043.60 1019.80 1043.60 878.80 GBP/Month [+]
Average Weekly Hours 32.20 32.20 33.50 31.30 Hours [+]
Employment Change 0.40 0.40 0.80 -0.90 percent [+]


United Kingdom Unemployment Rate

In the United Kingdom, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force. 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 - actual data, historical chart and calendar of releases - was last updated on September of 2017.

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
4.30 4.40 12.00 3.40 1971 - 2017 percent Monthly




unemployment rate by Country

Last
Spain 17.22 Jun/17
Brazil 12.80 Jul/17
Italy 11.30 Jul/17
Turkey 10.20 Jun/17
France 9.50 Jun/17
Euro Area 9.10 Jul/17
Canada 6.20 Aug/17
Australia 5.60 Aug/17
Indonesia 5.33 Mar/17
India 4.90 Dec/13
Russia 4.90 Aug/17
Netherlands 4.70 Aug/17
United States 4.40 Aug/17
United Kingdom 4.30 Jul/17
China 3.95 Jun/17
South Korea 3.80 Aug/17
Germany 3.70 Jul/17
Mexico 3.40 Jul/17
Switzerland 3.00 Aug/17
Japan 2.80 Jul/17