United Kingdom GBP

United Kingdom Unemployment Rate

Info

History

Chart

Impact:

High

Source: Office for National Statistics

Latest Release:

Date:

Actual:

4.5%

Forecast: 4.5%

Previous/Revision:

4.4%

Period: Mar

Next Release:

Date:

Period: Apr

What Does It Measure?

The United Kingdom Unemployment Rate measures the percentage of the labor force that is unemployed and actively seeking employment within the country. This indicator primarily assesses employment levels, offering insights into the health of the labor market, potential wage inflation, and overall economic stability. Key indicators include the unemployment rate itself, where rates above 5% often indicate economic distress, while lower rates suggest a robust labor market. This is a national indicator.

Frequency

The unemployment rate is released monthly, typically on the second Tuesday following the end of the reference month. The figures provided can be preliminary estimates or revised data from previous months.

Why Do Traders Care?

Traders closely monitor the unemployment rate as it serves as a critical barometer of economic health and can influence monetary policy decisions. A lower-than-expected unemployment rate is often bullish for local currencies and equities, as it may lead to stronger consumer spending and economic growth.

What Is It Derived From?

The unemployment rate is derived from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which collects data from a diverse sample of households across the UK. The LFS asks respondents about their employment status, and the unemployment rate is calculated based on the proportion of unemployed individuals compared to the total labor force.

Description

The unemployment rate distinguishes between those who are unemployed and actively seeking work versus those who are not part of the labor force, such as students or retired individuals. Generally, a decrease in the unemployment rate indicates an improving job market and is considered a positive sign for the economy, while an increasing rate suggests potential economic challenges. Preliminary figures can lead to immediate market reactions, while final reports provide a more accurate depiction of employment trends.

Additional Notes

The unemployment rate serves as a lagging economic indicator, reflecting the health of the economy as it responds to changes in demand and production. Comparisons to related indicators, such as job creation numbers and participation rates, further contextualize the employment situation in the UK, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of economic trends.

Legend

High Potential Impact
This event has a strong potential to move markets significantly. If the 'Actual' value differs enough from the forecast or if the 'Previous' value is significantly revised, it signals new information that markets may rapidly adjust to.

Medium Potential Impact
This event may cause moderate market movement, especially if the 'Actual' deviates from the forecast or there's a notable revision to the 'Previous' value.

Low Potential Impact
This event is unlikely to affect market pricing unless there's an unexpected surprise or a major revision to prior data.

Surprise - Currency May Strengthen
Actual deviated from Forecast on a medium or high impact event and historically could strengthen the currency.

Surprise - Currency May Weaken
Actual deviated from Forcast on a medium or high impact event and historically could weaken the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Strengthen
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely strengthen the currency.

Big Surprise - Currency More Likely To Weaken
'Actual' deviated from 'Forecast' more than 75% of historical deviations on a medium or high impact event and may likely weaken the currency

Green Number	Better than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Red Number	Worse than forecast for the currency (or previous revise better)
Hawkish	Supports higher interest rates to fight inflation, strengthening the currency but weighing on stocks.
Dovish	Favors lower rates to boost growth, weakening the currency but lifting stocks.

Date	Actual	Forecast	Previous	Surprise
May 13, 2025	4.5%	4.5%	4.4%
Apr 15, 2025	4.4%	4.4%	4.4%
Mar 20, 2025	4.4%	4.4%	4.4%
Feb 18, 2025	4.4%	4.5%	4.4%	-0.1%
Jan 21, 2025	4.4%	4.3%	4.3%	0.1%
Dec 17, 2024	4.3%	4.3%	4.3%
Nov 12, 2024	4.3%	4.1%	4%	0.2%
Sep 10, 2024	4.1%	4.1%	4.2%
Aug 13, 2024	4.2%	4.5%	4.4%	-0.3%
Jul 18, 2024	4.4%	4.4%	4.4%
Jun 11, 2024	4.4%	4.3%	4.3%	0.1%
May 14, 2024	4.3%	4.3%	4.2%
Apr 16, 2024	4.2%	4%	4%	0.2%
Mar 12, 2024	3.9%	3.8%	3.8%	0.1%
Feb 13, 2024	3.8%	4%	3.9%	-0.2%
Jan 16, 2024	4.2%	4.2%	4.2%
Dec 12, 2023	4.2%	4.3%	4.2%	-0.1%
Nov 14, 2023	4.2%	4.3%	4.2%	-0.1%
Oct 24, 2023		4.3%	4.3%
Sep 12, 2023	4.3%	4.3%	4.2%
Aug 15, 2023	4.2%	4%	4%	0.2%
Jul 11, 2023	4%	3.8%	3.8%	0.2%
Jun 13, 2023	3.8%	4%	3.9%	-0.2%
May 16, 2023	3.9%	3.8%	3.8%	0.1%
Apr 18, 2023	3.8%	3.7%	3.7%	0.1%
Mar 14, 2023	3.7%	3.8%	3.7%	-0.1%
Feb 14, 2023	3.7%	3.7%	3.7%
Jan 17, 2023	3.7%	3.7%	3.7%
Dec 13, 2022	3.7%	3.7%	3.6%
Nov 15, 2022	3.6%	3.5%	3.5%	0.1%
Oct 11, 2022	3.5%	3.6%	3.6%	-0.1%
Sep 13, 2022	3.6%	3.8%	3.8%	-0.2%
Aug 16, 2022	3.8%	3.8%	3.8%
Jul 19, 2022	3.8%	3.9%	3.8%	-0.1%
Jun 14, 2022	3.8%	3.6%	3.7%	0.2%
May 17, 2022	3.7%	3.8%	3.8%	-0.1%
Apr 12, 2022	3.8%	3.8%	3.9%
Mar 15, 2022	3.9%	4%	4.1%	-0.1%
Feb 15, 2022	4.1%	4.1%	4.1%
Jan 18, 2022	4.1%	4.2%	4.2%	-0.1%
Dec 14, 2021	4.2%	4.2%	4.3%
Nov 16, 2021	4.3%	4.4%	4.5%	-0.1%
Oct 12, 2021	4.5%	4.5%	4.6%
Sep 14, 2021	4.6%	4.6%	4.7%
Aug 17, 2021	4.7%	4.8%	4.8%	-0.1%
Jul 15, 2021	4.8%	4.7%	4.7%	0.1%
Jun 15, 2021	4.7%	4.7%	4.8%
May 18, 2021	4.8%	4.9%	4.9%	-0.1%
Apr 20, 2021	4.9%	5.1%	5%	-0.2%
Mar 23, 2021	5%	5.2%	5.1%	-0.2%
Feb 23, 2021	5.1%	5.1%	5%
Jan 26, 2021	5%	5.1%	4.9%	-0.1%
Dec 15, 2020	4.9%	5.1%	4.8%	-0.2%
Nov 10, 2020	4.8%	4.8%	4.5%
Oct 13, 2020	4.5%	4.3%	4.1%	0.2%
Sep 15, 2020	4.1%	4.1%	3.9%
Aug 11, 2020	3.9%	4.2%	3.9%	-0.3%
Jul 16, 2020	3.9%	4.2%	3.9%	-0.3%
Jun 16, 2020	3.9%	4.7%	3.9%	-0.8%
May 19, 2020	3.9%	4.4%	4%	-0.5%
Apr 21, 2020	4%	3.9%	3.9%	0.1%
Mar 17, 2020	3.9%	3.8%	3.8%	0.1%
Feb 18, 2020	3.8%	3.8%	3.8%
Jan 21, 2020	3.8%	3.8%	3.8%
Dec 17, 2019	3.8%	3.9%	3.8%	-0.1%
Nov 12, 2019	3.8%	3.9%	3.9%	-0.1%
Oct 15, 2019	3.9%	3.8%	3.8%	0.1%
Sep 10, 2019	3.8%	3.9%	3.9%	-0.1%
Aug 13, 2019	3.9%	3.8%	3.8%	0.1%
Jul 16, 2019	3.8%	3.8%	3.8%
Jun 11, 2019	3.8%	3.8%	3.8%
May 14, 2019	3.8%	3.9%	3.9%	-0.1%
Apr 16, 2019	3.9%	3.9%	3.9%
Mar 19, 2019	3.9%	4%	4%	-0.1%
Feb 19, 2019	4%	4%	4%
Jan 22, 2019	4%	4.1%	4.1%	-0.1%
Dec 11, 2018	4.1%	4.1%	4.1%
Nov 13, 2018	4.1%	4%	4%	0.1%
Oct 16, 2018	4%	4%	4%
Sep 11, 2018	4%	4%	4%
Aug 14, 2018	4%	4.2%	4.2%	-0.2%
Jul 17, 2018	4.2%	4.2%	4.2%
Jun 12, 2018	4.2%	4.2%	4.2%
May 15, 2018	4.2%	4.2%	4.2%
Apr 17, 2018	4.2%	4.3%	4.3%	-0.1%
Mar 21, 2018	4.3%	4.4%	4.4%	-0.1%
Feb 21, 2018	4.4%	4.3%	4.3%	0.1%
Jan 24, 2018	4.3%	4.3%	4.3%
Dec 13, 2017	4.3%	4.2%	4.3%	0.1%
Nov 15, 2017	4.3%	4.3%	4.3%
Oct 18, 2017	4.3%	4.3%	4.3%
Sep 13, 2017	4.3%	4.4%	4.4%	-0.1%
Aug 16, 2017	4.4%	4.5%	4.5%	-0.1%
Jul 12, 2017	4.5%	4.6%	4.6%	-0.1%
Jun 14, 2017	4.6%	4.6%	4.6%
May 17, 2017	4.6%	4.7%	4.7%	-0.1%
Apr 12, 2017	4.7%	4.7%	4.7%
Mar 15, 2017	4.7%	4.8%	4.8%	-0.1%
Feb 15, 2017	4.8%	4.8%	4.8%
Jan 18, 2017	4.8%	4.8%	4.8%
Dec 14, 2016	4.8%	4.8%	4.8%
Nov 16, 2016	4.8%	4.9%	4.9%	-0.1%
Oct 19, 2016	4.9%	4.9%	4.9%
Sep 14, 2016	4.9%	4.9%	4.9%
Aug 17, 2016	4.9%	4.9%	4.9%
Jul 20, 2016	4.9%	5%	5%	-0.1%
Jun 15, 2016	5%	5.1%	5.1%	-0.1%
May 18, 2016	5.1%	5.1%	5.1%
Apr 20, 2016	5.1%	5.1%	5.1%
Mar 16, 2016	5.1%	5.1%	5.1%
Feb 17, 2016	5.1%	5%	5.1%	0.1%
Jan 20, 2016	5.1%	5.2%	5.2%	-0.1%
Dec 16, 2015	5.2%	5.3%	5.3%	-0.1%
Nov 11, 2015	5.3%	5.4%	5.4%	-0.1%
Oct 14, 2015	5.4%	5.5%	5.5%	-0.1%
Sep 16, 2015	5.5%	5.6%	5.6%	-0.1%
Aug 12, 2015	5.6%	5.6%	5.6%
Jul 15, 2015	5.6%	5.5%	5.5%	0.1%
Jun 17, 2015	5.5%	5.5%	5.5%
May 13, 2015	5.5%	5.5%	5.6%