FX.co ★ UK Jobless Rate Steady at 4.9%

The UK unemployment rate held steady at 4.9% in the three months to June 2026, defying forecasts of a fall to 4.8%, as firms postponed hiring amid uncertainty over both domestic and global conditions. The number of unemployed people declined by 36,000 to 1.772 million, largely due to a drop in those out of work for up to six months. However, unemployment was 88,000 higher than a year earlier, reflecting an increase in people unemployed for between six and 12 months.

Total employment rose by 84,000 to 34.469 million, following a 147,000 gain in the previous quarter, and was 253,000 higher than a year earlier. Over April–June, both full-time and part-time employment increased compared with a year before, driven by growth in full-time employees and part-time self-employed workers. The number of people with second jobs climbed to 1.293 million, representing 3.8% of all those in work.