UK Jobless Rate Steady at 4.7%

The United Kingdom’s unemployment rate stood at 4.7% in the three months to July 2025, unchanged from the previous period and in line with market expectations. The rate remained at its highest since the three months to August 2021, reflecting increases in the number of people unemployed for both 6–12 months and over 12 months compared with the prior period. On an annual basis, unemployment rose across all duration groups. Meanwhile, the number of employed individuals grew by 232,000 to 34.2 million, a new record, driven mainly by gains in full-time positions. The number of people holding second jobs also increased, now accounting for 3.8% of total employment, suggesting that more workers are seeking additional income sources. Lastly, the economic inactivity rate edged up to 21.1%, 0.1 percentage point higher than in the prior period.