Spotlight
Unemployment rate (aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted): %
UK: Aged 16 and over
4.7 %
2026 JUN-AUG
- Release date:
- 20 October 2026
- Next release:
- 17 November 2026
Labour market overview, UK: October 2026
What's in the bulletin?
- The labour market remains broadly flat in 2026. There has been a slight increase in the employment rate, while the unemployment rate has seen a small fall, in the latest quarter. Over the same period, the number of payrolled employees has fallen.
- The number of vacancies has seen its largest fall since the start of the year. This is mainly from smaller firms, who continue to suggest that they may not be recruiting because of increased labour costs.
- Regular wage growth has remained relatively stable. However, total pay is at its lowest level in nearly six years.
Time series related to Unemployment
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Unemployment rate (aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted): %
UK: Aged 16 and over
4.7 % 2026 JUN-AUG- Release date:
- 20 October 2026
- Next release:
- 17 November 2026
-
1,712 000's 2026 JUN-AUG
- Release date:
- 20 October 2026
- Next release:
- 17 November 2026
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Female unemployment rate (aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted): %
UK: Aged 16 and over
4.3 % 2026 JUN-AUG- Release date:
- 20 October 2026
- Next release:
- 17 November 2026
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Male unemployment rate (aged 16 and over, seasonally adjusted): %
UK: Aged 16 and over
5.1 % 2026 JUN-AUG- Release date:
- 20 October 2026
- Next release:
- 17 November 2026
-
4.9 % 2026 JUN-AUG
- Release date:
- 20 October 2026
- Next release:
- 17 November 2026
Datasets related to Unemployment
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Characteristics of those not in employment as of Census Day 2021: detailed industry estimates
Census 2021 data of the industry of people’s last main job who were not employed on census day. This dataset is at the division level of the Standard Industrial Classification.
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Characteristics of those not in employment as of Census Day 2021: broad occupation estimates
Census 2021 data outlining the last main occupation of those who were not employed on census day. Data is at one digit level of the Standard Occupation Classification.
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Characteristics of those not in employment as of Census Day 2021: broad industry estimates
Census 2021 data outlining the primary industry for people who were not employed on census day. This dataset is at the section level of the Standard Industrial Classification.
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Characteristics of those not in employment as of Census Day 2021: employment history
Census 2021 data outlining the employment history of those not in employment on census day, including estimates by personal characteristics and reason for not being employed.
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Characteristics of those not in employment as of Census Day 2021: detailed occupation estimates
Census 2021 data outlining the occupation of the last main job of those who were not employed on census day. This data is at the four-digit level of the Standard Occupational Classification.
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A01: Summary of labour market statistics
Labour market statistics summary data table, including earnings, employment, unemployment, redundancies and vacancies, Great Britain and UK, published monthly.
Publications related to Unemployment
Statistical bulletins
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Labour market overview, UK: October 2026
Estimates of employment, unemployment, economic inactivity, and other employment-related statistics for the UK.
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Children living in long-term workless households in the UK: 2025
Annual UK estimates of the number of children living in households where all adults have not worked for at least 12 months.
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Employment in the UK: October 2026
Estimates of employment, unemployment and economic inactivity for the UK.
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Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK: August 2026
Estimates of young people (aged 16 to 24 years) who are not in education, employment or training, by age and sex. These are official statistics.
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Working and workless households in the UK: April to June 2026
The economic status of households in the UK and the people living in them, where at least one person is aged 16 to 64 years. Taken from the Labour Force Survey.
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Workless households for regions across the UK: 2025
Annual information at a local level about households and the adults and children living in them, by their economic activity status.
Articles
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Characteristics of those not in employment as of Census Day 2021
Breakdown of people out of work, using data from Census 2021. This covers economic inactivity, unemployment, employment history, occupation, and industry.
Methodology related to Unemployment
Find, compare and visualise statistics about places within the United Kingdom.