LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) was 12.04 in 2025. ▲ Rising
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in United Kingdom, 1999–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in United Kingdom stood at 12.04.
That represents a change of up 10.4% on the previous year and down 15.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in United Kingdom peaked at 17.96 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 8.04, in 2004.
That places United Kingdom 40th out of 75 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 10.25 | — |
| 2000 | 9.54 | -6.9% |
| 2001 | 8.35 | -12.6% |
| 2002 | 8.63 | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 8.34 | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 8.04 | -3.6% |
| 2005 | 11.38 | +41.5% |
| 2006 | 12.1 | +6.4% |
| 2007 | 12.26 | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 13.11 | +6.9% |
| 2009 | 16.53 | +26.1% |
| 2010 | 17.38 | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 17.58 | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 17.96 | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 17.19 | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 15.52 | -9.7% |
| 2015 | 14.23 | -8.3% |
| 2016 | 12.87 | -9.6% |
| 2017 | 12.2 | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 11.29 | -7.5% |
| 2019 | 10.48 | -7.2% |
| 2020 | 12.77 | +21.9% |
| 2021 | 12.88 | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 10.16 | -21.1% |
| 2023 | 10.4 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | 10.91 | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 12.04 | +10.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 12.04 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.43, 1.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 12.04 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.04, 1.0× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10.25 | 10.25 | 10.25 | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.83 | 8.04 | 16.53 | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.67 | 10.48 | 17.96 | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.53 | 10.16 | 12.88 | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
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 lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in United Kingdom?
- Lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) in United Kingdom was 12.04 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 17.96 in 2012.
- What is the lowest lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.04 in 2004.
- How does United Kingdom rank for lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo)?
- United Kingdom ranks 40th out of 75 countries with data for 2025.
- Is lu4: composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ilo) rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU4: Composite rate of labour underutilization (previous ILO definition - ICLS13) (15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
With the aim of promoting international comparability, statistics presented on ILOSTAT are based on standard international definitions wherever feasible and may differ from official national figures. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. For time series comparability, it includes countries that have implemented the 19th ICLS standards, for which data are also available in the Work Statistics -- 19th ICLS (WORK) database. LU4 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment, time-related underemployment or the potential labour force. Data disaggregated by level of education are provided on the highest level of education completed, classified according to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED). Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISCED. For more information, refer to the Education and Mismatch Indicators (EMI) database description.