UK Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Falls to 4.9%

2026-06-18 06:08 By Kyrie Dichosa 1 min. read

The UK unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in the three months to April 2026, defying expectations that it would remain at 5.0%.

The number of unemployed people declined by 105 thousand to 1.764 million, driven by a decrease in those unemployed for up to six months, while the number of those unemployed for between six and 12 months was broadly unchanged and those out of work for more than 12 months fell.

Compared with the same period a year earlier, however, unemployment increased by 124 thousand, as the number of people unemployed for between six and 12 months and for over 12 months rose.

Meanwhile, total employment increased by 100 thousand to 34.410 million, topping expectations of a 75 thousand rise, and was also up 399 thousand from a year earlier, driven by an increase in full-time workers, partly offset by a decline in part-time employment.

The number of people holding second jobs decreased in the latest quarter to 1.277 million, accounting for 3.7% of all employed individuals.



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UK Jobless Rate Unexpectedly Falls to 4.9%
The UK unemployment rate fell to 4.9% in the three months to April 2026, defying expectations that it would remain at 5.0%. The number of unemployed people declined by 105 thousand to 1.764 million, driven by a decrease in those unemployed for up to six months, while the number of those unemployed for between six and 12 months was broadly unchanged and those out of work for more than 12 months fell. Compared with the same period a year earlier, however, unemployment increased by 124 thousand, as the number of people unemployed for between six and 12 months and for over 12 months rose. Meanwhile, total employment increased by 100 thousand to 34.410 million, topping expectations of a 75 thousand rise, and was also up 399 thousand from a year earlier, driven by an increase in full-time workers, partly offset by a decline in part-time employment. The number of people holding second jobs decreased in the latest quarter to 1.277 million, accounting for 3.7% of all employed individuals.
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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.
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