Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies was 1.68 million Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2025)
1.68 million Persons
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
5th
of 22 countries
All-time high
3.29 million Persons
in 1986
All-time low
239,000 Persons
in 1955
Years of data
71
1955–2025

Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1955–2025

01.0M2.0M3.0M195519902025

Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 1.68 million Persons for infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in 2025.

That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and up 110.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 3.29 million Persons in 1986 and was at its lowest, 239,000 Persons, in 1955.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th of 22 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1955 to 2025.
Year Persons Change
1955 239,000 Persons
1956 254,583 Persons +6.5%
1957 321,667 Persons +26.4%
1958 442,167 Persons +37.5%
1959 468,083 Persons +5.9%
1960 368,333 Persons -21.3%
1961 339,167 Persons -7.9%
1962 454,000 Persons +33.9%
1963 539,583 Persons +18.9%
1964 393,750 Persons -27.0%
1965 338,583 Persons -14.0%
1966 353,417 Persons +4.4%
1967 547,250 Persons +54.8%
1968 574,333 Persons +4.9%
1969 566,333 Persons -1.4%
1970 602,000 Persons +6.3%
1971 744,000 Persons +23.6%
1972 826,100 Persons +11.0%
1973 591,150 Persons -28.4%
1974 590,883 Persons -0.0%
1975 902,308 Persons +52.7%
1976 1.23 million Persons +36.2%
1977 1.31 million Persons +6.8%
1978 1.30 million Persons -1.1%
1979 1.23 million Persons -5.5%
1980 1.56 million Persons +27.2%
1981 2.42 million Persons +55.0%
1982 2.79 million Persons +15.4%
1983 3.05 million Persons +9.3%
1984 3.16 million Persons +3.5%
1985 3.27 million Persons +3.5%
1986 3.29 million Persons +0.7%
1987 2.95 million Persons -10.3%
1988 2.37 million Persons -19.7%
1989 1.80 million Persons -24.1%
1990 1.66 million Persons -7.5%
1991 2.29 million Persons +37.7%
1992 2.78 million Persons +21.2%
1993 2.92 million Persons +5.1%
1994 2.64 million Persons -9.7%
1995 2.33 million Persons -11.8%
1996 2.12 million Persons -8.7%
1997 1.60 million Persons -24.5%
1998 1.36 million Persons -15.0%
1999 1.26 million Persons -7.3%
2000 1.10 million Persons -12.7%
2001 983,000 Persons -10.8%
2002 958,758 Persons -2.5%
2003 945,892 Persons -1.3%
2004 866,142 Persons -8.4%
2005 874,417 Persons +1.0%
2006 956,733 Persons +9.4%
2007 872,958 Persons -8.8%
2008 912,017 Persons +4.5%
2009 1.54 million Persons +68.4%
2010 1.50 million Persons -2.1%
2011 1.54 million Persons +2.5%
2012 1.59 million Persons +3.2%
2013 1.42 million Persons -10.4%
2014 1.04 million Persons -27.1%
2015 799,950 Persons -23.0%
2016 774,200 Persons -3.2%
2017 796,625 Persons +2.9%
2018 903,392 Persons +13.4%
2019 1.13 million Persons +25.4%
2020 2.24 million Persons +98.0%
2021 2.28 million Persons +1.6%
2022 1.59 million Persons -30.2%
2023 1.54 million Persons -3.4%
2024 1.67 million Persons +9.0%
2025 1.68 million Persons +0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1950s 345,100 Persons 239,000 Persons 468,083 Persons 5
1960s 447,475 Persons 338,583 Persons 574,333 Persons 10
1970s 932,521 Persons 590,883 Persons 1.31 million Persons 10
1980s 2.67 million Persons 1.56 million Persons 3.29 million Persons 10
1990s 2.10 million Persons 1.26 million Persons 2.92 million Persons 10
2000s 1.00 million Persons 866,142 Persons 1.54 million Persons 10
2010s 1.15 million Persons 774,200 Persons 1.59 million Persons 10
2020s 1.83 million Persons 1.54 million Persons 2.28 million Persons 6

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 2 France 3.09 million Persons compare
  2. 2 Poland 840,000 Persons compare
  3. 3 Germany 2.95 million Persons compare
  4. 3 Netherlands 201,000 Persons compare
  5. 4 Spain 2.47 million Persons compare
  6. 4 Lithuania 157,627 Persons compare
  7. 5 Slovenia 103,152 Persons compare
  8. 6 Estonia 46,095 Persons compare
  9. 6 Russian Federation 1.33 million Persons compare
  10. 7 Belgium 552,792 Persons compare
  11. 8 Czechia 329,750 Persons compare

See the full ranking of 29 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 1.68 million Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is the highest infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 3.29 million Persons in 1986.
What is the lowest infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 239,000 Persons in 1955.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th out of 22 countries with data for 2025.
Is infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 110.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Retrieved 06 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/infra-annual-registered-unemployment-and-job-vacancies/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies
Unit
Persons
Source
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Licence
OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required)
Coverage
29 places, 1,358 data points, 1950–2025
Last refreshed

The Registered Unemployment and Job Vacancies statistics is a subset of the Infra-annual Labour Force Statistics database, which contains predominantly quarterly and monthly statistics, and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and selected other economies. There are basically two sources for unemployment statistics: labour force surveys and administrative data. Surveys are based on standard methodology and procedures used all over the world while administrative data are subject to national legislations which evolve through time. Consequently registered unemployment data are not comparable across countries. The relationship between survey and registered unemployment is not the same for all countries. Number of registered unemployed persons and registered unemployment rates are presented here because they are monthly and quickly available after their reference period. The job vacancies data provides estimates of the number of unfilled job vacancies across national economies. Series give an indication of the labour demand while the unemployment is linked with the labour supply.