Labour Market Updates

UK Labour Market Cooling Continues And Business Hiring Caution Persists

In the quarter to January 2026, employment and unemployment levels both rose, the inactivity rate fell, vacancies were broadly unchanged, and regular wage growth slowed to its lowest level in five years.

Mar 19, 2026

UK Unemployment Rate Reaches Post-Pandemic High And Wage Growth Continues To Slow

In the quarter to December 2025, unemployment and redundancy levels both rose, the employment rate fell slightly and strong private sector wage growth has continued to slow. Provisional estimates suggest that vacancies are struggling to grow, and inactivity levels decreased slightly, but remain stubbornly high. As such, the UK labour market picture is broadly unchanged from recent months, but there is a growing challenge of people wanting to work, being unable to find it.

Feb 17, 2026

Unemployment Levels Creep Up Again While Private Sector Wage Growth Falls

In the quarter to November 2025, unemployment and redundancy levels rose, the employment rate held, and strong private sector wage growth has continued to show signs of easing. The number of vacancies across the economy was also broadly unchanged and inactivity remains stubbornly high. Therefore, the UK labour market picture is fundamentally the same, with cooling conditions increasingly being driven by business cost pressures.

Jan 20, 2026

Unemployment Climbs Again as the Jobs Market Weakens

In the three months to September 2025, unemployment and redundancy levels both rose while the number of employed people and payrolled employees fell, vacancy levels plateaued, and wage growth in the private sector is gradually falling. Consequently, the labour market picture is fundamentally the same, and the jobs market is continuing to show signs of weakening.

Nov 11, 2025

Vacancy Numbers Plateau and Unemployment Levels Rise to Highest Level in Four Years

Vacancy Numbers Plateau and Unemployment Levels Rise to Highest Level in Four Years

Oct 14, 2025

The Labour Market Continues to cool and Vacancies Fall Again

In the three months to July 2025, unemployment and employment levels both rose, the economic inactivity level and rate fell, and strong wage growth continued to present signs of slowing.

Sep 16, 2025

The Job Market Continues to Present Signs of Weakening

In the three months to June 2025, unemployment and employment levels rose, the economic inactivity level and economic inactivity rate both fell, and strong wage growth continued to present signs of slowing.

Aug 12, 2025

Unemployment continues to rise while wage growth slows

This month’s figures continue to present signs of a cooling labour market: vacancies are continuing to drop, unemployment levels rose, and nominal regular wage growth has plateaued back to 5% after intermittently hovering at 6% over the past year.

Jul 17, 2025

Unemployment rises to highest level in almost four years, and the jobs market continues to show signs of weakening

In the quarter to April 2025, wage growth across the economy remained strong, but is weaker compared to recent months. Unemployment and employment levels both rose (unemployment notably so), and economic inactivity fell, but still sits above 9 million.

Jun 11, 2025

Wage growth plateaus but remains strong, while vacancy levels continue to dip

In the three months to March 2025, wage growth across the economy remained strong and, while wages continued to rise in nominal and real terms, the rate of wage growth is showing signs of slowing.

May 14, 2025

Employment and unemployment levels continue to rise, while vacancies fall to lowest level in almost four years

In the three months to February 2025, wage growth across the economy showed signs of plateauing but remains strong, unemployment and employment levels both increased, while inactivity fell but is still stubbornly high.

Apr 15, 2025

Wage growth stabilises but remains strong, while youth unemployment levels continue to climb

In the quarter to January 2025, wage growth across the economy remained strong, unemployment and employment levels increased, and economic inactivity has continued to fall but remains high.

Mar 20, 2025

Regular wage growth continues to climb, while employment and unemployment levels increase

In the quarter to December 2024, wage growth across the economy remained strong, unemployment and employment levels increased, and economic inactivity marginally fell but remains high.

Feb 18, 2025

Wage growth persists while employment figures continue to paint a mixed picture

In the quarter to November 2024, wage growth across the economy remained strong, unemployment and employment levels both increased, and economic inactivity marginally fell but remains high.

Jan 21, 2025

Wage growth remains strong and vacancies edge closer to pre-pandemic levels

In the period between August and October 2024, wage growth across the economy remained strong, employment and unemployment levels both increased, while vacancies and inactivity fell.

Dec 17, 2024

Employment rises and vacancies fall, as the labour market continues to soften

In the period between June and August 2024, wage growth across the economy remained strong, the employment rate increased, and high inactivity rate persisted. This paints a mixed picture of the labour market, with conditions cooling but limited labour pool hindering business’s ability to grow.

Oct 15, 2024

Unemployment Falls Marginally

The labour market shows a gradual slowdown, with vacancies still above pre-pandemic levels, while pay rates remain high due to last year's inflation.

Aug 14, 2024

The labour market continues to cool

This month's labour market figures continue to show signs of gradual cooling, with the number of vacancies still falling and unemployment rising.

Jul 18, 2024

Pay growth softens while vacancies continue to fall

The latest ONS data cover the period from September to November 2023 and show a labour market that remains tight overall but continues to soften.

Dec 13, 2023

Labour Market Continues Strong Recovery, But Real Pay Falls

The latest ONS data covers the period from September to November 2021, providing a snapshot of labour market activity.

Jan 19, 2022