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Data · What if the trend continues?

Unemployment rate in the UK: what if the recent trend continues?

Unemployment rate in the UK has no clear direction in the latest official figures. Here is what it would mean in everyday money if that pace carried on — and if it slowed or stopped.

Latest: 4.7% (July 2026) · Average over the last 12 months: -0.1 pp a year · Office for National Statistics (UK)

Out of work per 1,000 people in the labour force

PathTodayIn 1 yearIn 3 yearsIn 5 years
Recent pace continues
-0.1 pp a year
47464442
Pace halves
-0.05 pp a year
47474645
Stops changing
0 pp a year
47474747

At the recent pace, about 44 in every 1,000 people in the labour force would be out of work in 3 years, compared with 47 today.

How this is calculated