Britain’s unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in June to August 2026, down 0.1 percentage points on both the year and the quarter, while the employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 rose 0.2 points to 75.3 percent, the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday. Annual growth in regular pay held at 3.7 percent, stable for a sixth consecutive three-month period, and total pay growth also came in at 3.7 percent, its lowest reading since August to October 2020. Vacancies fell by 21,000 to 691,000 in July to September, the largest quarterly fall since January to March and the lowest level outside the pandemic since 2014, while the early estimate for September payrolled employees was broadly flat on the month at 30.3 million.
UK jobless rate eases to 4.7 percent as vacancies fall
Britain's unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent in June to August 2026 while regular pay growth held at 3.7 percent and vacancies dropped to 691,000, the lowest level outside the pandemic since 2014.
Why it matters: A flat labour market with stable regular pay growth gives the Bank of England no new push in either direction, while the fall in vacancies points to cooling demand for staff, concentrated in smaller firms citing higher labour costs.
Data as of Office for National Statistics, Labour market overview, UK: October 2026, released October 20, 2026 and read in full on the ONS site. All figures are from that bulletin, the issuing body's own release. Developing item.
Sources
- Labour market overview, UK: October 2026 - UK Office for National Statistics - 2026-10-20