As of the fourth quarter of 2024, the youth unemployment rate in the UK was highest in London at 19.3 percent, compared with the UK average of 14.8 percent. As of this quarter, Northern Ireland had the lowest youth unemployment rate at just 3.5 percent.

London had the highest unemployment rate among regions of the United Kingdom in the fourth quarter of 2024 at 6.1 percent, while for the UK as a whole, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent. Four other regions also had an unemployment rate higher than the national average, while Northern Ireland had the lowest unemployment rate in this time period, at two percent. Labor market recovery after COVID-19 After reaching historically low levels of unemployment in 2019, there was a noticeable spike in the UK unemployment rate in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. After peaking at 5.1 percent in late 2020, the unemployment rate declined throughout 2021 and 2022. High levels of job vacancies, resignations, and staff shortages in 2022, were all indicative of a very tight labor market that year, but all these measures have started to point in the direction of a slightly looser labor market. UK's regional economic divide While the North of England has some of the country’s largest cities, the sheer size and economic power of London is much larger than the UK's other urban agglomerations. Partly, due to the size of London, the United Kingdom is one of Europe’s most centralized counties, and there is a clear divide between the economic prospects of north and south England. In 2022, for example, the gross domestic product per head in London was 57,338 British pounds, far higher than the UK average of 33,593 pounds, and significantly larger than North East England, the region with the lowest GDP per head at 24,172 pounds.

Unemployment by age and sex for UK regions and countries, rolling three-monthly figures published monthly, not seasonally adjusted. Labour Force Survey.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate in the United Kingdom was highest in Wales, where it was 5.4 percent, followed by England at 4.5 percent, Scotland at 3.8 percent, and 1.6 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 four percent at the start of 2024, with this falling to 2.5 percent by the end of the year.

The unemployment rate of the United Kingdom was 4.4 percent in January 2025, unchanged from the previous month. Before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK had relatively low levels of unemployment, comparable with the mid-1970s. 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.

Unemployment Rate in the United Kingdom remained unchanged at 4.40 percent in January. 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.

Unemployment numbers and rates for those aged 16 or over. The unemployed population consists of those people out of work, who are actively looking for work and are available to start immediately.

Unemployed numbers and rates also shown for equalities groups, by age, sex, ethnic group, and disability.

The data are taken from the Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey, produced by the Office for National Statistics.

The data are produced monthly on a rolling quarterly basis. The month shown is the month the quarter ends on.

The International Labour Organization defines unemployed people as: without a job, want a job, have actively sought work in the last 4 weeks and are available to start work in the next 2 weeks, or, out of work, have found a job and are waiting to start it in the next 2 weeks.

The figures in this dataset are adjusted to compensate for seasonal variations in employment (seasonally adjusted).

Data by equalities groups has a longer time lag and is only available quarterly from the Annual Population Survey, which is not seasonally adjusted.

Useful links

Click here for Regional labour market statistics from the Office for National Statistics.

Click here for Labour market statistics from the Office for National Statistics.

See here for GLA Economics' Labour Market Analysis.

See here for Economic Inactivity statistics.

See here for Employment rates.

This dataset is one of the Greater London Authority's measures of Economic Fairness. Click here to find out more.

Unemployment by age and duration (seasonally adjusted). These estimates are sourced from the Labour Force Survey, a survey of households. These are official statistics in development.

United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: East of England data was reported at 3.168 % in Aug 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.182 % for May 2018. United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: East of England data is updated quarterly, averaging 4.850 % from May 1992 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 106 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.300 % in May 1993 and a record low of 3.168 % in Aug 2018. United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: East of England 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.G033: Unemployment Rate: By Region: Seasonally Adjusted.

United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: East Midlands data was reported at 4.384 % in Aug 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 4.129 % for May 2018. United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: East Midlands data is updated quarterly, averaging 5.400 % from May 1992 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 106 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 9.300 % in Feb 1993 and a record low of 3.940 % in Feb 2017. United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: East Midlands 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.G033: Unemployment Rate: By Region: Seasonally Adjusted.

United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: London data was reported at 4.667 % in Aug 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.876 % for May 2018. United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: London data is updated quarterly, averaging 7.600 % from May 1992 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 106 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.300 % in Nov 1993 and a record low of 4.667 % in Aug 2018. United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: London 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.G033: Unemployment Rate: By Region: Seasonally Adjusted.

Economic activity rates, employment rates and unemployment rates broken down by ethnic group. The economically active population comprises those who are either employed or unemployed and excludes those who are economically inactive. The data are taken from the Annual Population Survey (APS), produced by the Office for National Statistics.

United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: South East data was reported at 3.682 % in Aug 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.668 % for May 2018. United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: South East data is updated quarterly, averaging 4.500 % from May 1992 (Median) to Aug 2018, with 106 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.500 % in Nov 1992 and a record low of 3.100 % in May 2001. United Kingdom Unemployment Rate: sa: England: South East 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.G033: Unemployment Rate: By Region: Seasonally Adjusted.

Model-based estimates of unemployment for local authorities and Parliamentary constituencies.

The unemployment rate of the West Midlands Metropolitan County was 5.5 percent in the twelve months to September 2024, which was the highest among England's six metropolitan counties and Greater London. By contrast, South Yorkshire, which includes the major city of Sheffield, had the lowest unemployment rate, at three percent.

Labour market indicators for UK constituent countries and English regions, including employment, unemployment, economic inactivity, workers' hours, jobs and Claimant Count, published monthly.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has jointly developed with Professor Ray Chambers of the University of Southampton, a new modelling methodology to produce modelled estimates of unemployment levels and rates on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition for local authority districts and unitary authorities (LAD/UAs). The unemployed population consists of those people out of work, who are actively looking for work and are available to start immediately. The data are taken from the Annual Population Survey, produced by the Office for National Statistics.

The unemployment rate is based on persons aged 16 and over.

The methodology is on the ONS website.

Regional level data can also be found on the ONS website.

Employment, unemployment and economic inactivity levels and rates by age group, UK, rolling three-monthly figures, seasonally adjusted. Labour Force Survey. These are official statistics in development.

Graph and download economic data for Infra-Annual Labor Statistics: Unemployment Rate Male: From 15 to 74 Years for United Kingdom (LRUN74MAGBA156N) from 2000 to 2023 about 15 to 74 years, males, United Kingdom, unemployment, and rate.

Unemployment by previous industrial sector. These estimates are sourced from the Labour Force Survey, a survey of households. These are official statistics in development.