UK labour market statistics
This paper provides the latest statistics and analysis of employment, unemployment, economic inactivity and earnings in the UK.
Table of contents
Overview
In January to March 2026, the number of people aged 16+ in employment was 34.39 million. The employment rate for people aged 16 to 64 was 75.0%, the same as a year earlier.
The UK unemployment rate was 5.0%, and 1.81 million people aged 16+ were unemployed. Unemployment levels increased by 192,000 over the last year, and the unemployment rate has increased from 4.5%.
9.10 million people aged 16 to 64 were economically inactive, and the inactivity rate was 20.9%. There have been falls in both inactivity levels and the inactivity rate over the last year.
Overview of the labour market
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Employment in the UK: Economic indicators
Employment data tells us about the strength of the labour market. Find the latest data on UK employment levels and rates.
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Unemployment in the UK: Economic indicators
Unemployment data tells us about the strength of the labour market. Find the latest data on UK unemployment levels and rates.
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Unemployment international comparisons: Economic indicators
Unemployment data tells us about the strength of the labour market. Find the latest data on unemployment in several major world economies.
People in the labour market
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Youth unemployment statistics
This briefing presents the latest statistics on youth unemployment in the UK as well as comparisons with other OECD countries.
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Unemployment by ethnic background
This short briefing summarises trends in unemployment rates and looks at how rates vary by ethnicity, age and sex.
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Disabled people in employment
This briefing describes the ONS's employment statistics for disabled people and the government’s programmes to support disabled people in work.
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Women and the UK economy
This briefing covers women’s participation in business and the labour market, including breakdowns by industry, occupation, region, ethnicity and disability.
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NEET: Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training
This briefing presents the latest statistics on young people who were Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), and the policies in place to reduce the number of people who are NEET.
Components of the labour market
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Employment status
This briefing provides an overview of the legal concept of employment status and reviews and proposals for reform of the law in this area
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Trade unions and industrial relations
This briefing covers the rules governing trade unions, the rights of union members, collective bargaining, strikes and other industrial action
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Apprenticeship statistics for England
In 2024/25, there were 353,500 apprenticeship starts in England. 761,500 people were participating in an apprenticeship and there were 198,300 apprenticeship achievements.
People claiming unemployment benefits
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People claiming unemployment benefits by constituency
This paper provides figures for the number of people claiming unemployment benefits (the “claimant count”) for the UK and by parliamentary constituency.
Earnings
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Average earnings by age and region
This interactive dashboard shows how median earnings have changed over time by UK region and country, and by age group and gender.
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The gender pay gap
This briefing paper provides statistics on the size of the gender pay gap in the UK and how it varies by factors such as age, occupation and location.
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National Minimum Wage statistics
This briefing looks at trends in UK National Minimum Wages, minimum wage jobs and how the UK compares internationally.
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Average earnings: Economic indicators
Earnings data gives us information on the labour market and household finances. Find the latest data on earnings for men and women in the UK.
Understanding labour market statistics
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Understanding statistics on employment, unemployment and earnings
This note explains the meaning of different concepts within labour market statistics and identifies the key measures and sources to use.
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Universal Credit and the claimant count
This briefing paper explains how Universal Credit has increased the number of people claiming unemployment benefits, by requiring a broader group of claimants to look for work than was the case under Jobseeker’s Allowance. In January 2019, the Department for Work and Pensions published an ‘alternative’ claimant count for the first time. This models what the claimant count would have been if Universal Credit had been fully in place since 2013.