Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies was 1.68 million Persons in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom, 1955–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
United Kingdom 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 peaked at 3.29 million Persons in 1986 and was at its lowest, 239,000 Persons, in 1955.
United Kingdom 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, year by year
| 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% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1.68 million Persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 309,939 Persons, 5.4× the median. (19 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1.68 million Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 279,601 Persons, 6.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +98.0% | 1.13 million Persons | 2.24 million Persons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | 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
- 2 France 3.09 million Persons compare
- 2 Poland 840,000 Persons compare
- 3 Germany 2.95 million Persons compare
- 3 Netherlands 201,000 Persons compare
- 4 Spain 2.47 million Persons compare
- 4 Lithuania 157,627 Persons compare
- 5 Slovenia 103,152 Persons compare
- 6 Estonia 46,095 Persons compare
- 6 Russia 1.33 million Persons compare
- 7 Belgium 552,792 Persons compare
- 8 Czechia 329,750 Persons compare
More work & labour data for United Kingdom
- 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)
- Unemployment rate (ILO modelled estimates) 4.93 (2027)
- Labour dependency ratio 1.07 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2021 international $ at PPP 111,361 (2027)
- Output per worker, GDP constant 2015 US $ 100,223 (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom?
- Infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies in United Kingdom 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?
- 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?
- The lowest recorded value was 239,000 Persons in 1955.
- How does United Kingdom rank for infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies?
- United Kingdom ranks 5th out of 22 countries with data for 2025.
- Is infra-annual registered unemployment and job vacancies rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- 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 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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About this data
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.