Unemployment rate in the UK, January 2026: 4.9%
Unemployment rate in the UK was 4.9% in January 2026, according to Office for National Statistics (UK).
- Previous month (December 2025): 5.2% (-0.3 pp).
- A year earlier (January 2025): 4.5%.
- A newer figure is available: 4.7% in July 2026.
Latest figure and full history
Other countries in January 2026
| Country | Value |
|---|---|
| Spain | 10.3% |
| France | 8% |
| Canada | 6.5% |
| Italy | 5.5% |
| UK | 4.9% |
| U.S. | 4.3% |
| South Korea | 4.1% |
| Australia | 4.08% |
| Germany | 3.9% |
| Japan | 2.7% |
Other months
Source
Source: Office for National Statistics, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 — Office for National Statistics (UK)