As of the second quarter of 2025, there were approximately 886,000 unemployed men in the United Kingdom and 787,000 unemployed women, compared with the previous quarter when there were 863,000 unemployed men and 751,000 unemployed women.

In the second quarter of 2025 the unemployment rate for men in the United Kingdom was 4.8 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.

There were over 1.67 million unemployed people in the United Kingdom in the three months to June 2025, compared with just over 1.64 million in the previous month. In the provided time, there was a peak of 2.7 million people unemployed in November 2011 and a noticeable uptick in unemployment in 2020. The bump in unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic peaked at almost 1.8 million in December 2020 then falling to a low of 1.2 million in August 2022, before climbing up again to the most recent levels. Government plans to boost UK workforce Although the Labour Party inherited a relatively healthy unemployment rate of around four percent from the previous government, the UK's labor market is less robust than it first appears. The current level of economic inactivity, is seen as the more concerning figure, especially the rising share of people on long-term sick leave. Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, at the end of 2019, there were around 2.08 million people economically inactive due to long-term sickness, with this figure increasing by around 740,000 by early 2024. Government plans to address the root cause of these issues and improve incentives to work were unveiled at the end of 2024, but may have come at an inopportune time. Labor market signals for 2025 Encouraging people back into work is one thing; making sure there are enough jobs is another. Recent data suggests that the UK is continuing to cool off from an overheated labor market in 2022, which at one point saw 1.3 million job vacancies in the UK. Although the current level of job vacancies is at more usual levels, any further falls could spell trouble for the economy. In December 2024, the number of people on UK payrolls fell by 47,000, while the number of redundancies has started to climb. Some UK businesses have also signalled that they have, or plan to, lay off staff due to increased taxes set to come into force in the next financial year.

Quarterly estimates for young people (aged 16 to 24 years) who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) in the UK. These are official statistics in development.

At most qualification levels, white people aged 16 to 64 were the least likely to be unemployed out of all ethnic groups in 2022.

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;

United Kingdom UK: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth Male: % of Male Labour Force Aged 15-24 data was reported at 13.486 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 14.762 % for 2016. United Kingdom UK: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth Male: % of Male Labour Force Aged 15-24 data is updated yearly, averaging 15.947 % from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 27 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 23.875 % in 2012 and a record low of 11.585 % in 2004. United Kingdom UK: Unemployment: Modeled ILO Estimate: Youth Male: % of Male Labour Force Aged 15-24 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. Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.; ; International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in September 2018.; Weighted average; Data up to 2016 are estimates while data from 2017 are projections. National estimates are also available in the WDI database. Caution should be used when comparing ILO estimates with national estimates.

Young people from the Chinese (4.5%) and Indian (7.3%) ethnic groups were less likely than the UK average (11.5%) to be not in employment, education or training.

(CDID: I46R) Year - Labour market statistics time series Main labour market statistics time series data.

The comparative headline estimates for the Labour Market Survey research findings and the current Labour Forcey Survey for employment, unemployment and economic inactivity for people aged 16 years and over and aged from 16 to 64 years (not seasonally adjusted).

A short story explaining the characteristics of unemployed people aged 16 to 24.

Source agency: Office for National Statistics

Designation: National Statistics

Language: English

Alternative title: Characteristics of young unemployed people

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner. The aim of the research is to investigate the nature and causes of the substantial increase in the number of men of working age in the UK who are no longer either employed or unemployed - i.e. 'economically inactive'. These include, among others, very large numbers who are now recorded as 'permanently sick' and 'early retired'. The research will assess the extent which this withdrawal from the labour market is related to individual and family circumstances and to local economic conditions. In particular, the research will investigate the extent to which inactivity 'disguises' unemployment, especially in the most disadvantaged labour markets. The survey took place in three towns with contrasting local economic conditions (Barnsley, Chesterfield and Northampton) and four rural areas (South Shropshire, North Norfolk, North Yorkshire and West Cumbria). Main Topics: Subjects covered by the questionnaire include current economic status of the respondent; age; marital status; social class/occupation; qualifications; housing status; experience of and duration of previous periods of non-employment; work history; reasons for last three jobs ending; job aspirations and perceived obstacles to re-employment; health limitations in respect of ability to work; benefits status of respondent; whether in receipt of pension income. Also included is the household composition and economic status of other household members. For the rural areas surveyed, additional questions were also asked about how long the respondent had lived in the area; availability of vehicles in the household and whether these would be available if needed to travel to work; difficulties of travelling to work or college to acquire further qualifications. Standard Measures Standard Occupational Classifications (major groups); Social Class based on Occupation. Multi-stage stratified random sample Face-to-face interview

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 4.70 percent in June. 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.

Approximately 14.2 percent of people aged 16 to 24 were unemployed in the United Kingdom in the first quarter of 2025, the highest of any age group in that month. During this time period, older age groups have had much lower unemployment rates than younger ones, who have consistently had the highest unemployment rate. For almost all the age groups, the peak in the unemployment rate was recorded in 2011 when almost a quarter of young working age people were unemployed. Young adults in the labor market In the provided time period, youth unemployment was at its lowest rate in the third quarter of 2022, when it was 10.3 percent. Since then, there has been a noticeable uptick in youth unemployment, which was 14.8 percent towards the end of 2024. A more long-term trend among this age group is the increase in economic inactivity, with 40.8 percent of 16 to 24-year-old's not in work or actively looking for work in 2024. Although students or people in training account for a high share of this economic inactivity, there has also been a rise in the proportion of young adults who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), which reached a ten-year-high of 13.2 percent in late 2024. Unemployment up from low baseline in late 2024 In 2022, the UK labor market, had very low levels of unemployment along with a record number of job vacancies. Throughout 2023 and 2024, this very tight labor market began to loosen, although is still quite low by historic standards. One indicator that has stood out since the COVID-19 pandemic, however, has been the number of people economically inactive due to being on long-term sick leave, which reached 2.82 million in the first quarter of 2024, and has been the main reason for economic inactivity in the UK since late 2021.

EU UK: Unemployment: sa: Male data was reported at 744.000 Person th in Apr 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 750.000 Person th for Mar 2018. EU UK: Unemployment: sa: Male data is updated monthly, averaging 1,234.000 Person th from Jan 1983 (Median) to Apr 2018, with 424 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,942.000 Person th in Feb 1993 and a record low of 736.000 Person th in Jan 2018. EU UK: Unemployment: sa: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Eurostat. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.Eurostat: Unemployment: Seasonally Adjusted.

Labour Force Survey summary data, including employment, unemployment and economic inactivity levels and rates, UK, rolling three-monthly figures published monthly, non-seasonally adjusted. These are official statistics in development.

This is the proportion of the population aged 16 to 64 who are economically inactive. Economically inactive are people who are neither in employment nor unemployed. This group includes: all those who were looking after a family/home, sick, retired or students; those 'Wanting A Job' - people not in employment who want a job but are not classed as unemployed because they have either not sought work in the last four weeks or are not available to start work; and those 'Not Wanting A Job' - people who are neither in employment nor unemployed and who do not want a job. While the source is a rolling annual survey updated quarterly, a given 12-month period should be compared to the matching 12-month period in previous years to obtain valid comparisons. The data for district and unitary authorities is generally taken not directly from the Annual Population Survey but from associated modelled estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics, which provide greater accuracy.Data is Powered by LG Inform Plus and automatically checked for new data on the 3rd of each month.

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;

This analysis looks at the economic activity of young people aged 16 to 24 in the UK. Both the unemployment rate and the proportion who are unemployed in this age group are examined. In doing so, we explain how the unemployment rate is calculated, and how this measure is affected by changes in the proportion of people who are economically inactive. Data on the percentage of inactive young people in full-time education are also included in this release. Source agency: Office for National Statistics Designation: National Statistics Language: English Alternative title: Young people in the labour market

In 2022, the highest and lowest rates of economic inactivity were in the combined Pakistani and Bangladeshi (33%) and white 'other’ (15%) ethnic groups.