Incidence of unemployment by duration in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Incidence of unemployment by duration was 41.29 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025. ▲ Rising
Incidence of unemployment by duration in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1983–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of population in the same subgroup.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 41.29 Percentage of population in the same subgroup for incidence of unemployment by duration in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.8% on the previous year and up 83.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, incidence of unemployment by duration in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 47.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2022 and was at its lowest, 10.14 Percentage of population in the same subgroup, in 1985.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1st out of 38 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 43 years of available data.
Incidence of unemployment by duration in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | Percentage of population in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 10.68 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | — |
| 1984 | 11.88 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +11.3% |
| 1985 | 10.14 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -14.7% |
| 1986 | 11.12 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +9.7% |
| 1987 | 11.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.8% |
| 1988 | 14.25 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +24.6% |
| 1989 | 15.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +10.0% |
| 1990 | 17.48 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +11.5% |
| 1991 | 19.31 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +10.5% |
| 1992 | 13.23 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -31.5% |
| 1993 | 11.19 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -15.4% |
| 1994 | 12.37 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +10.5% |
| 1995 | 12.68 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 14.51 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +14.4% |
| 1997 | 16.2 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +11.6% |
| 1998 | 20.06 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +23.9% |
| 1999 | 22.38 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +11.5% |
| 2000 | 23.45 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 24.32 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 26.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +9.4% |
| 2003 | 26.41 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 25.89 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 26.15 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 24.07 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -8.0% |
| 2007 | 25.24 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +4.9% |
| 2008 | 24.78 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 22.64 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -8.6% |
| 2010 | 19.84 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -12.4% |
| 2011 | 19.93 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 18.87 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 19.46 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.1% |
| 2014 | 19.84 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 22.56 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +13.7% |
| 2016 | 41.71 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +84.9% |
| 2017 | 43.06 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 44.16 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +2.6% |
| 2019 | 44.87 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 44.54 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 37.64 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -15.5% |
| 2022 | 47.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | +26.0% |
| 2023 | 47.05 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 43.85 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -6.8% |
| 2025 | 41.29 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | -5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 12.17 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10.14 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 15.67 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 7 |
| 1990s | 15.94 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 11.19 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 22.38 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2000s | 24.96 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 22.64 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 26.61 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.43 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 18.87 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 44.87 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 43.63 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 37.64 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 47.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 1 Türkiye 35.79 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 2 Colombia 37.66 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 2 Netherlands 29.13 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 2 Croatia 16.98 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 3 Mexico 35.94 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 3 Slovenia 26.74 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
- 4 Ireland 35.35 Percentage of population in the same subgroup compare
More work & labour data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 22,956 (2027)
- Labour force participation rate (ILO modelled estimates) 60.91 (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) 35,770 (2027)
- Employment-to-population ratio (ILO modelled estimates) 57.91 (2027)
- Persons outside the labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+) 1.47 % change on previous year (2027)
- Labour force (ILO modelled estimates) (15+), annual growth rate 0.4352 % change on previous year (2027)
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 61.4% (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is incidence of unemployment by duration in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Incidence of unemployment by duration in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 41.29 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 47.44 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 2022.
- What is the lowest incidence of unemployment by duration recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.14 Percentage of population in the same subgroup in 1985.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for incidence of unemployment by duration?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 1st out of 38 countries with data for 2025.
- Is incidence of unemployment by duration rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 83.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Incidence of unemployment by duration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This table contains data on the share of the five durations - less than 1 month,>1 month and < 3 months,>3 months and <6 months,>6 months and <1 year, 1 year and over - of unemployment among total unemployment by sex and by standardised age groups (15-19, 15-24, 20-24, 25-54, 55+, total). Detailed notes and sources can be found in LFS_NOTES_SOURCES. In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation. Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.