UK unemployment rate: women (16+)
UK unemployment rate: women (16+) stood at 4.5% in Jun 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is one of the indicators in the Labour market table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Feb 1971 to Jun 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Labour market table
| Indicator | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | 10-2025 | 09-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment and unemployment | |||||||||||
| Unemployment rate, women (16+) | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | |
| People in employment (16+) | 34,478 | 34,469 | 34,475 | 34,411 | 34,386 | 34,328 | 34,312 | 34,253 | 34,312 | 34,222 |
Understanding UK unemployment rate: women (16+)
Measuring joblessness among female residents aged 16 and over across the United Kingdom, this percentage reflects the share of the active female labour force that is without paid employment but actively seeking and available to start. Unlike sibling indicators focusing on men or total populations, this series highlights the specific labour market experiences of women. The measure includes all women actively engaged in job searches while excluding those who remain outside the labour force due to domestic responsibilities, education, or retirement.
When evaluating these figures, analysts must account for recurring seasonal shifts tied to education term dates and public sector recruitment patterns. Early estimates are routinely refined as survey response weights are finalised against updated demographic projections. Comparing this rate against male equivalents requires recognising structural differences in part-time work prevalence and caring responsibilities. A frequent pitfall is assuming that a falling rate invariably reflects rising full-time employment, as it can equally be driven by women withdrawing entirely from job-seeking due to discouragement.
Frequently asked questions
- How does this series differ from the total unemployment rate?
- This series isolates exclusively female respondents aged 16 and over, whereas the total rate combines all genders into a single aggregate benchmark.
- Are women engaged entirely in unpaid domestic work counted as unemployed here?
- No, individuals performing unpaid household duties who are not actively seeking paid employment are categorised as economically inactive.
- Why are rolling three-month averages recommended for this series?
- Single-month figures from household surveys carry higher sampling variability, so rolling averages provide a clearer picture of underlying trends.