Next release Tuesday, 17 November 2026, 02:00 New York. Every release since 20 Jan 2016: 130 on record, actual against forecast. High impact for the GBP. Updated within the hour of each release.
The last UK Unemployment Rate (Aug. 2026, released 20 Oct 2026) came in at 4.7%, below the 5% forecast; the previous reading was 4.9%. The next UK Unemployment Rate is due Tuesday, 17 November 2026 at 02:00 New York time (Sep. 2026).
Since 2016, UK Unemployment Rate has come in above forecast 33% of the time and below 32% (130 releases with a forecast); over the last 12 it beat 25%. It has now come in below forecast 2 releases in a row.
The average miss against forecast over the last 24 releases was 0.09%: lower than expected is good for the GBP.
| Released | Period | Actual | Forecast | Previous | Vs forecast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 2026 02:00 | Aug. 2026 | 4.7% | 5% | 4.9% | below |
| 15 Sept 2026 02:00 | Jul. 2026 | 4.9% | 5% | 4.9% | below |
| 18 Aug 2026 02:00 | Jun. 2026 | 4.9% | 4.8% | 4.9% | above |
| 21 Jul 2026 02:00 | May. 2026 | 4.9% | 5% | 4.9% | below |
| 18 Jun 2026 02:00 | Apr. 2026 | 4.9% | 5% | 5% | below |
| 19 May 2026 02:00 | Mar. 2026 | 5% | 4.9% | 4.9% | above |
| 21 Apr 2026 02:00 | Feb. 2026 | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.2% | below |
| 19 Mar 2026 03:00 | Jan. 2026 | 5.2% | 5.3% | 5.2% | below |
| 17 Feb 2026 02:00 | Dec. 2025 | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.1% | in line |
| 20 Jan 2026 02:00 | Nov. 2025 | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5.1% | in line |
| 16 Dec 2025 02:00 | Oct. 2025 | 5.1% | 5.1% | 5% | in line |
| 11 Nov 2025 02:00 | Sep. 2025 | 5% | 4.9% | 4.8% | above |
| 14 Oct 2025 02:00 | Aug. 2025 | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.7% | above |
| 16 Sept 2025 02:00 | Jul. 2025 | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | in line |
| 12 Aug 2025 02:00 | Jun. 2025 | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | in line |
| 17 Jul 2025 02:00 | May. 2025 | 4.7% | 4.6% | 4.6% | above |
| 10 Jun 2025 02:00 | Apr. 2025 | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.6% | in line |
| 13 May 2025 02:00 | Mar. 2025 | 4.6% | 4.5% | 4.5% | above |
| 15 Apr 2025 02:00 | Feb. 2025 | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.4% | above |
| 20 Mar 2025 03:00 | Jan. 2025 | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | in line |
| 18 Feb 2025 02:00 | Dec. 2024 | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.4% | below |
| 21 Jan 2025 02:00 | Nov. 2024 | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.2% | in line |
| 17 Dec 2024 02:00 | Oct. 2024 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.3% | below |
| 12 Nov 2024 02:00 | Sep. 2024 | 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.1% | above |
| 15 Oct 2024 02:00 | Aug. 2024 | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.2% | in line |
| 10 Sept 2024 02:00 | Jul. 2024 | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.2% | above |
| 13 Aug 2024 02:00 | Jun. 2024 | 4.2% | 4.5% | 4.4% | below |
| 18 Jul 2024 02:00 | May. 2024 | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.4% | in line |
| 11 Jun 2024 02:00 | Apr. 2024 | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | above |
| 14 May 2024 02:00 | Mar. 2024 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.2% | in line |
| 16 Apr 2024 02:00 | Feb. 2024 | 4.2% | 4% | 4.1% | above |
| 12 Mar 2024 03:00 | Jan. 2024 | 4.1% | 3.8% | 3.9% | above |
| 13 Feb 2024 02:00 | Dec. 2023 | 3.9% | 4% | 4% | below |
| 16 Jan 2024 02:00 | Nov. 2023 | 4% | 4.2% | 4% | below |
| 12 Dec 2023 02:00 | Oct. 2023 | 4% | 4.2% | 4.1% | below |
| 14 Nov 2023 02:00 | Sep. 2023 | 4.1% | 4.3% | 4.3% | below |
| 24 Oct 2023 02:00 | Aug. 2023 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.4% | in line |
| 12 Sept 2023 02:00 | Jul. 2023 | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.2% | above |
| 15 Aug 2023 02:00 | Jun. 2023 | 4.2% | 4% | 4% | above |
| 11 Jul 2023 02:00 | May. 2023 | 4% | 3.8% | 3.9% | above |
| 13 Jun 2023 02:00 | Apr. 2023 | 3.9% | 4% | 4% | below |
| 16 May 2023 02:00 | Mar. 2023 | 4% | 3.8% | 4% | above |
| 18 Apr 2023 02:00 | Feb. 2023 | 4% | 3.7% | 3.9% | above |
| 14 Mar 2023 03:00 | Jan. 2023 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.9% | above |
| 14 Feb 2023 02:00 | Dec. 2022 | 3.9% | 3.7% | 3.9% | above |
| 17 Jan 2023 02:00 | Nov. 2022 | 3.9% | 3.7% | 3.8% | above |
| 13 Dec 2022 02:00 | Oct. 2022 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 3.7% | above |
| 15 Nov 2022 02:00 | Sep. 2022 | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3.6% | above |
| 11 Oct 2022 02:00 | Aug. 2022 | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | in line |
| 13 Sept 2022 02:00 | Jul. 2022 | 3.6% | 3.8% | 3.8% | below |
| 16 Aug 2022 02:00 | Jun. 2022 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.7% | in line |
| 19 Jul 2022 02:00 | May. 2022 | 3.7% | 3.9% | 3.8% | below |
| 14 Jun 2022 02:00 | Apr. 2022 | 3.8% | 3.6% | 3.8% | above |
| 17 May 2022 02:00 | Mar. 2022 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.9% | in line |
| 12 Apr 2022 02:00 | Feb. 2022 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.1% | above |
| 15 Mar 2022 03:00 | Jan. 2022 | 4.1% | 4% | 4.2% | above |
| 15 Feb 2022 02:00 | Dec. 2021 | 4.2% | 4.1% | 4.2% | above |
| 18 Jan 2022 02:00 | Nov. 2021 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.3% | in line |
| 14 Dec 2021 02:00 | Oct. 2021 | 4.3% | 4.2% | 4.4% | above |
| 16 Nov 2021 02:00 | Sep. 2021 | 4.4% | 4.4% | 4.5% | in line |
| 12 Oct 2021 02:00 | Aug. 2021 | 4.5% | 4.5% | 4.6% | in line |
| 14 Sept 2021 02:00 | Jul. 2021 | 4.6% | 4.6% | 4.7% | in line |
| 17 Aug 2021 02:00 | Jun. 2021 | 4.7% | 4.8% | 4.8% | below |
| 15 Jul 2021 02:00 | May. 2021 | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.8% | above |
| 15 Jun 2021 02:00 | Apr. 2021 | 4.8% | 4.7% | 4.9% | above |
| 18 May 2021 02:00 | Mar. 2021 | 4.9% | 4.9% | 5% | in line |
| 20 Apr 2021 02:00 | Feb. 2021 | 5% | 5.1% | 5.2% | below |
| 23 Mar 2021 03:00 | Jan. 2021 | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.3% | in line |
| 23 Feb 2021 02:00 | Dec. 2020 | 5.3% | 5.1% | 5.2% | above |
| 26 Jan 2021 02:00 | Nov. 2020 | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.2% | above |
| 15 Dec 2020 02:00 | Oct. 2020 | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5% | above |
| 10 Nov 2020 02:00 | Sep. 2020 | 5% | 4.8% | 4.6% | above |
| 13 Oct 2020 02:00 | Aug. 2020 | 4.6% | 4.3% | 4.4% | above |
| 15 Sept 2020 02:00 | Jul. 2020 | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.1% | above |
| 11 Aug 2020 02:00 | Jun. 2020 | 4.1% | 4.2% | 4.1% | below |
| 16 Jul 2020 02:00 | May. 2020 | 4.1% | 4.2% | 4.1% | below |
| 16 Jun 2020 02:00 | Apr. 2020 | 4.1% | 4.7% | 4.1% | below |
| 19 May 2020 02:00 | Mar. 2020 | 4.1% | 4.4% | 3.9% | below |
| 21 Apr 2020 02:00 | Feb. 2020 | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | in line |
| 17 Mar 2020 05:30 | Jan. 2020 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.7% | above |
| 18 Feb 2020 04:30 | Dec. 2019 | 3.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | below |
| 21 Jan 2020 04:30 | Nov. 2019 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | in line |
| 17 Dec 2019 04:30 | Oct. 2019 | 3.8% | 3.9% | 3.9% | below |
| 12 Nov 2019 04:30 | Sep. 2019 | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | in line |
| 15 Oct 2019 04:30 | Aug. 2019 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.9% | above |
| 10 Sept 2019 04:30 | Jul. 2019 | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | in line |
| 13 Aug 2019 04:30 | Jun. 2019 | 3.9% | 3.8% | 3.8% | above |
| 16 Jul 2019 04:30 | May. 2019 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | in line |
| 11 Jun 2019 04:30 | Apr. 2019 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | in line |
| 14 May 2019 04:30 | Mar. 2019 | 3.8% | 3.9% | 4% | below |
| 16 Apr 2019 04:30 | Feb. 2019 | 4% | 3.9% | 3.9% | above |
| 19 Mar 2019 05:30 | Jan. 2019 | 3.9% | 4% | 4% | below |
| 19 Feb 2019 04:30 | Dec. 2018 | 4% | 4% | 4% | in line |
| 22 Jan 2019 04:30 | Nov. 2018 | 4% | 4.1% | 4.1% | below |
| 11 Dec 2018 04:30 | Oct. 2018 | 4.1% | 4.1% | 4.1% | in line |
| 13 Nov 2018 04:30 | Sep. 2018 | 4.1% | 4% | 4% | above |
| 16 Oct 2018 04:30 | Aug. 2018 | 4% | 4% | 4% | in line |
| 11 Sept 2018 04:30 | Jul. 2018 | 4% | 4% | 4% | in line |
| 14 Aug 2018 04:30 | Jun. 2018 | 4% | 4.2% | 4.2% | below |
| 17 Jul 2018 04:30 | May. 2018 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | in line |
| 12 Jun 2018 04:30 | Apr. 2018 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | in line |
| 15 May 2018 04:30 | Mar. 2018 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.2% | in line |
| 17 Apr 2018 04:30 | Feb. 2018 | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.3% | below |
| 21 Mar 2018 05:30 | Jan. 2018 | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.4% | below |
| 21 Feb 2018 04:30 | Dec. 2017 | 4.4% | 4.3% | 4.3% | above |
| 24 Jan 2018 04:30 | Nov. 2017 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.2% | in line |
| 13 Dec 2017 04:30 | Oct. 2017 | 4.2% | 4.2% | 4.3% | in line |
| 15 Nov 2017 04:30 | Sep. 2017 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | in line |
| 18 Oct 2017 04:30 | Aug. 2017 | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | in line |
| 13 Sept 2017 04:30 | Jul. 2017 | 4.3% | 4.4% | 4.4% | below |
| 16 Aug 2017 04:30 | Jun. 2017 | 4.4% | 4.5% | 4.4% | below |
| 12 Jul 2017 04:30 | May. 2017 | 4.4% | 4.6% | 4.5% | below |
| 14 Jun 2017 04:30 | Apr. 2017 | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.6% | below |
| 17 May 2017 04:30 | Mar. 2017 | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.6% | below |
| 12 Apr 2017 04:30 | Feb. 2017 | 4.6% | 4.7% | 4.7% | below |
| 15 Mar 2017 05:30 | Jan. 2017 | 4.7% | 4.8% | 4.7% | below |
| 15 Feb 2017 04:30 | Dec. 2016 | 4.7% | 4.8% | 4.8% | below |
| 18 Jan 2017 04:30 | Nov. 2016 | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | in line |
| 14 Dec 2016 04:30 | Oct. 2016 | 4.8% | 4.8% | 4.8% | in line |
| 16 Nov 2016 04:30 | Sep. 2016 | 4.8% | 4.9% | 5% | below |
The next UK Unemployment Rate is due Tuesday, 17 November 2026 at 02:00 New York time (Sep. 2026).
The last UK Unemployment Rate (Aug. 2026, released 20 Oct 2026) came in at 4.7%, below the 5% forecast; the previous reading was 4.9%.
UK Unemployment Rate is released monthly by Office for National Statistics. CRTLAB has 130 releases on record since 20 Jan 2016.
Since 2016, UK Unemployment Rate has come in above forecast 33% of the time and below 32% (130 releases with a forecast); over the last 12 it beat 25%. It has now come in below forecast 2 releases in a row.
The highest was 5.3% (Dec. 2020) and the lowest 3.6% (Aug. 2022). The five-year average is 4.32%.
Usually the opposite: a lower reading than forecast is the good surprise for the GBP, and the bigger the surprise the bigger the move. On this page, green marks a release that was good for the GBP against its forecast, red one that was bad.
CRTLAB measures every UK Jobs release on 1-minute data: the first 5, 15 and 60 minutes of gold, NAS100, the indices, forex and crypto. Every release day is broken down at https://crtlab.pro/news/uk-jobs.
In the United Kingdom, the headline unemployment rate is the number of unemployed people (aged 16+) divided by the economically active population (aged 16+).