UK unemployment rate: United Kingdom
UK unemployment rate: United Kingdom stood at 4.9% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate by region | |||||||||||
| United Kingdom | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5 | 4.9 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.1 | |
| England | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5.1 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
Understanding UK unemployment rate: United Kingdom
The proportion of the economically active population that is unemployed and searching for work within the United Kingdom is tracked by this indicator. The measure captures individuals without a paid job who are available to start work and have actively sought employment within a specified timeframe. Unlike the claimant count, which records benefit recipients, this survey-based metric includes jobseekers who do not claim government support. Economically inactive individuals, such as full-time students, retirees, and those long-term sick, are deliberately excluded from both the numerator and the denominator.
Interpreting this rate requires acknowledging that sample-based surveys carry statistical uncertainty and are subject to regular revisions as population weights are updated. Period-on-period movements can reflect changes in survey participation rather than genuine shifts in labour market health, so quarterly rolling averages are often used to smooth volatility. Analysts should examine employment and inactivity rates alongside this figure to understand whether falling joblessness stems from successful hiring or workers leaving the labour force entirely.
Frequently asked questions
- How does this rate differ from the claimant count?
- This rate is survey-based and includes jobless individuals regardless of whether they receive unemployment benefits.
- Are students looking for part-time work counted as unemployed?
- Yes, provided they are actively seeking work and available to start within the standard timeframe.
- Why are rolling averages frequently used when analysing this series?
- Rolling averages help smooth out sampling variability inherent in monthly survey estimates.