The unemployment rate of the United Kingdom was five percent in September 2025, up from 4.8 percent in the previous month, and the highest rate of unemployment since 2021. Before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK had relatively low levels of unemployment. Between January 2000 and the most recent month, unemployment was highest in November 2011, when the unemployment rate hit 8.5 percent. Will unemployment continue to rise in 2025? Although low by historic standards, there has been a noticeable uptick in the UK's unemployment rate, with other labor market indicators also pointing to further loosening. In December 2024, the number of job vacancies in the UK fell to its lowest level since May 2021, while payrolled employment declined by 47,000 compared with November. Whether this is a continuation of a broader cooling of the labor market since 2022 or a reaction to more recent economic developments, such as upcoming tax rises for employers, remains to be seen. Forecasts made in late 2024 suggest that the unemployment rate will remain relatively stable in 2025, averaging out at 4.1 percent and falling again to four percent in 2026.
Demographics of the unemployed As of the third quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate for men was slightly higher than that of women, at 4.4 percent, compared to 4.1 percent. During the financial crisis at the end of the 2000s, the unemployment rate for women peaked at a quarterly rate of 7.7 percent, whereas for men, the rate was 9.1 percent. Unemployment is also heavily associated with age, and young people in general are far more vulnerable to unemployment than older age groups. In late 2011, for example, the unemployment rate for those aged between 16 and 24 reached 22.3 percent, compared with 8.2 percent for people aged 25 to 34, while older age groups had even lower peaks during this time.

The statistic shows the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom from 1999 to 2024. The UK's unemployment rate decreased to 4.11 percent in 2024. Unemployment and the economy of the United Kingdom The global financial crisis of 2008 left many nations with high inflation and increasing unemployment rates. The United Kingdom, however, has attempted and successfully lowered the unemployment rate since 2009. The UK is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Council of Europe, the G7, the G8, the G20, NATO, and World Trade Organization. It is therefore one of the biggest and most important economic powers in the world. It consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in 2014, the UK population amounted to over 64 million people. The same year, it reported the sixth largest gross domestic product in the world, reaching more than 2.8 billion U.S. dollars - and with a prospering economy, its GDP is on the upswing: It is estimated that the GDP in the United Kingdom will grow by approximately 3 percent in 2015 in comparison to the previous year. Regarding unemployment, the UK has never been "typically European". Europe's unemployment rate has been relatively high in comparison to other world regions; the unemployment rate in developed countries and the European Union in 2014 was around 7.8 percent. Meanwhile, the global unemployment rate in 2014 was an estimated 5.9 percent. Despite reporting the third highest unemployment rate in major industrial and emerging countries, behind France and India, the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom is much lower than the European Union rate.

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom increased to 5 percent in September from 4.80 percent in August of 2025. This dataset 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.

In the third quarter of 2025, the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom was highest in Wales, where it was 5.7 percent, followed by England at 5.1 percent, Scotland at 3.7 percent, and 2.4 percent in Northern Ireland, the lowest rate among the four countries of the UK. For all four countries, the peak in unemployment during this period was in the early 2010s. England and Scotland's unemployment rates were highest in Q4 2011 at 8.4 percent and 8.6 percent respectively, with unemployment reaching 9.7 percent in Wales during Q3 2011. Northern Ireland reported its highest unemployment rate in Q1 of 2013 when it reached eight percent. Unemployment ticking up as UK enters 2025 For the United Kingdom as a whole, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in November 2024, the joint-highest rate recorded since August 2021. After reaching 8.5 percent in late 2011, unemployment in the UK fell quite consistently for several years, with this recovery interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw unemployment rise to 5.3 percent in late 2020 and early 2021. From this point onwards, however, the labor market bounced back, and was particular strong in 2022 when there were a record number of job vacancies and unemployment fell to as low as 3.6 percent. While the labor market cooled throughout 2023 and 2024, unemployment remained at historically low levels. Overall economy grows but GDP per head falls Throughout the whole of 2024, gross domestic product in the UK grew by 0.9 percent, but in the third quarter of the year, there was no economic growth, followed by the relatively weak growth rate of 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter. Furthermore, GDP per head in the UK, declined for a second-consecutive year, and was just 36,977 pounds in 2024, compared with 37,371 pounds in 2022. Inflation, meanwhile, has fallen from the peak of 11.1 percent in October 2022, but was still at the relatively high rate of 4 percent at the start of 2024, with this falling to 2.5 percent by the end of the year.

In the third quarter of 2025 the unemployment rate for men in the United Kingdom was 5.4 percent, while for women it was 4.5 percent. The male unemployment rates seen in late 2020 were the highest since 2015, while the rates for women reached heights last seen in 2016. During the provided time period, the unemployment rate for men peaked in Q1 1993 at 12.7 percent, while for women the unemployment rate was highest in Q2 1984 when it was 11.8 percent. Unemployment uptick to continue? The overall unemployment rate for the UK was 4.4 percent in November 2024, which was quite low but, slightly above the record low rates seen in 2022. During that year, there was also a peak in the number of job vacancies in the UK, which reached 1.3 million in May 2022. Since that point, however, the number of vacancies has been falling, and was at its lowest level since May 2021 in January 2024, at 812,000. Current forecasts for unemployment anticipate an annual rate of 4.1 percent for 2025, although this may be revised upwards in the future. Youth unemployment in the UK The unemployment rate for people in the United Kingdom is heavily associated with age. For people aged between 16 and 24 years, for example, the unemployment rate was 14.8 percent in the third quarter of 2024, compared with just 2.3 percent for those aged between 35 and 49. As with the overall unemployment rate, young men had a higher unemployment rate at 17.7 percent, compared with 11.9 percent for young women in the third quarter of 2024.

Measure of Employment rates from 1971 to 2015. Employment rate shows the take up of employment in percentage terms from 1971 to 2015 across England.

United Kingdom UK: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 8.170 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9.460 % for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 9.970 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2016, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 35.260 % in 1998 and a record low of 7.430 % in 2003. United Kingdom UK: Unemployment with Basic Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

The unemployment rate in Birmingham in the UK was *** percent as of the first quarter of 2025, compared with *** percent for the wider West Midlands Metropolitan area and *** percent for the UK as a whole.

Youth Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom increased to 12.70 percent in September from 12 percent in August of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Youth Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

United Kingdom UK: Unemployment with Advance Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 2.930 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.940 % for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Unemployment with Advance Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 3.170 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2016, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.900 % in 1993 and a record low of 2.210 % in 2001. United Kingdom UK: Unemployment with Advance Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an advanced level of education who are unemployed. Advanced education comprises short-cycle tertiary education, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent education level, a master’s degree or equivalent education level, or doctoral degree or equivalent education level according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

United Kingdom UK: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data was reported at 5.350 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.970 % for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data is updated yearly, averaging 5.970 % from Dec 1992 (Median) to 2016, with 25 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.000 % in 1993 and a record low of 4.050 % in 2001. United Kingdom UK: Unemployment with Intermediate Education: Male: % of Male Labour Force data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.World Bank: Employment and Unemployment. The percentage of the labor force with an intermediate level of education who are unemployed. Intermediate education comprises upper secondary or post-secondary non tertiary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in November 2017.; Weighted Average;

United Kingdom Employment Rate: sa: Female: Aged 65 & Over data was reported at 7.836 % in May 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 7.663 % for Apr 2018. United Kingdom Employment Rate: sa: Female: Aged 65 & Over data is updated monthly, averaging 4.157 % from Apr 1992 (Median) to May 2018, with 314 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.880 % in Feb 2015 and a record low of 2.902 % in Mar 2001. United Kingdom Employment Rate: sa: Female: Aged 65 & Over data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.G008: Labour Force: Employment Rate.

The Labour Market Indicators spreadsheet for boroughs and regions will no longer be updated from March 2015. The final version from March 2015 will still be available to download at the bottom of this page. Most of the data is available within datasets elsewhere on the Datastore.

Workforce Jobs
Unemployment
Model based Unemployment for Boroughs
Claimant Count rates for Boroughs and Wards
Employment Rate Trends
Employment rates by Gender, Age and Disability
Number of Self Employed, Full and Part Time Employed
Employment by Occupation
Employment by Industry
Employment, Unemployment, Economic Activity and Inactivity Rates by Disability
Employment by Ethnicity
Economic Inactivity by Gender and Reason
Qualifications of Economically Active, Employed and Unemployed
Qualification levels of working-age population
Apprenticeship Starts and Achievements
Young People Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET), Borough
19 year olds Qualified to NVQ Level 3
GCE A level examination results of 16-18 year olds
GCSE Results by Pupil Characteristics
People Claiming Out-of-Work Benefits
People Claiming Incapacity Benefit
Children Living in Workless Households
Gross Value Added, and Gross Disposable Household Income
Earnings by place of residence
Earnings by place of work
Business Demographics
Employment projections by sector
Jobs Density
Population Estimates
Population Migration

Core Indicators

Number of London residents of working age in employment
Employment rate
Number of male London residents of working age in employment
Male employment rate
Number of female London residents of working age in employment
Female employment rate
Workforce jobs
Jobs density
Number of London residents of working age who are economically inactive
Economic inactivity rate
Number of London residents aged 16+ who are unemployed (model based)
Proportion of London residents aged 16+ who are unemployed (model based)
Claimant unemployment
Claimant Count as a proportion of the working age population
Incidence of skill gaps (Numbers and rates)
GCSE (5+ A*–C) attainment including English and Maths
Number of working age people in London with no qualifications
Proportion of working age people in London with no qualifications
Number of working age people in London with Level 4+ qualifications
Proportion of working age people in London with Level 4+ qualifications
Number of people of working age claiming out of work benefits
Proportion of the working age population who claim out of work benefits
Number of young people aged 16-18 who are not in employment, education or training NEET)
Proportion of 16-18 year olds who are NEET

Additional Indicators

Economy and Productivity
Business Demography (active enterprises, births and deaths of enterprises)
Business Demography (active enterprises, births and deaths of enterprises): Index
Business Demography (National indicators)

Demand for labour: Jobs, vacancies and skills needs
Total vacancies reported by employers
Skill shortage vacancies
JobCentre vacancies - notified
JobCentre vacancies - unfilled
Number employed by industry (working age)
Employment rates by industry (working age)
Number employed by occupation
Employment rates by occupation
Working age who are self-employed
Numbers employed in the civil service

Population and supply of labour
Population estimates (working age)
National Insurance Number Registrations of overseas nationals
Employment projections
Number employed by ethnic groups (working age)
Employment rates by ethnic groups (working age)
Number employed by age groups
Employment rates by age groups
Number employed by disability (working age)
Employment rates by disability (working age)
Employment: Part time/ Full time
Inactivity by reason (working age)
Inactivity rates by reason (working age)
JSA claimants by ethnic groups
Incapacity Benefit claimants by duration
Working age benefit claimants by statistical group
Aged 18-24, claiming JSA for over 6 months
Aged 18-24, claiming JSA for over 9 months
Aged over 25, claiming JSA for over 1 year
JSA claimant flows
JSA claimant flows: index

Skills and learning
Total achieving 5+ A*-C grades inc. English & Mathematics by characteristics
Percentage achieving 5+ A*-C grades inc. English & Mathematics by characteristics
GCE A level examination results of 16-18 year olds
Working age population by qualification level and sex
Working age rates by qualification level and sex
Qualification levels of those in employment (working age)
Number with no adult learning (working age)
Proportion with no adult learning (working age)
Received job related training in last 13 wks (working age)
Apprenticeship Programme starts and achievements - summary
Apprenticeship Programme starts and achievements - index
Apprenticeship Programme starts by level and age
Apprenticeship Programme achievements by level and age
Number of 19 year olds qualified to Level 3
Proportion of 19 year olds qualified to Level 3

Worklessness and NEETS
Worklessness by sex and age (working age)
Worklessness rates by sex and age (working age)
Worklessness numbers and rates by qualification levels (working age)

Within the borough spreadsheet, statistics are shown for boroughs, inner London, outer London, Thames Gateway London, Olympic Host Boroughs, West London, and West London Alliance.

Further Labour Market Indicator tools are available from the CESI website.

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United Kingdom BS: Unemployment: Claimant Count: BS: UK: Male data was reported at 562.700 Person th in Oct 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 556.400 Person th for Sep 2018. United Kingdom BS: Unemployment: Claimant Count: BS: UK: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 1,039.900 Person th from Jun 1983 (Median) to Oct 2018, with 425 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,353.800 Person th in Jan 1993 and a record low of 472.100 Person th in Nov 2015. United Kingdom BS: Unemployment: Claimant Count: BS: UK: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Office for National Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.G011: Labour Force: Unemployment Claimant Count.

Background

This analysis was conducted as part of a university module to compare age with socio-economic group in the UK and investigates unemployment levels with deprivation in England.

Content

The dataset includes the English Indices of Deprivation 2015 and the 2011 UK census data.

The English indices of deprivation measures relative deprivation in small areas in England called lower-layer super output areas. The index of multiple deprivation is the most widely used of these indices. More information can be found on the government website here. The Index of Multiple Deprivation ranks every small area in England from 1 (most deprived area) to 32,844 (least deprived area) and ranks them according to the following measures:

Income Deprivation Employment Deprivation Education, Skills and Training Deprivation Health Deprivation and Disability Crime Barriers to Housing and Services Living Environment Deprivation By including the 2011 UK census data and a lookup table (for combining the datasets) it is possible to see how age and gender corresponds to areas of deprivation.

Acknowledgements

All data has been made freely available by the UK Government and can be accessed here. It is strongly recommended that the guidance notes for this dataset are read before performing any analysis.

Employment Rate in the United Kingdom decreased to 75 percent in September from 75.10 percent in August of 2025. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Employment Rate- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

United Kingdom UK: Contributing Family Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data was reported at 0.399 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 0.429 % for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Contributing Family Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data is updated yearly, averaging 0.483 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.170 % in 1991 and a record low of 0.395 % in 2015. United Kingdom UK: Contributing Family Workers: Modeled ILO Estimate: Female: % of Female Employment data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Employment and Unemployment. Contributing family workers are those workers who hold 'self-employment jobs' as own-account workers in a market-oriented establishment operated by a related person living in the same household.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections.