Monthly unemployment levels in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Monthly unemployment levels was 1,740 Persons in 2025. ▼ Falling
Monthly unemployment levels in United Kingdom, 1983–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Persons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for monthly unemployment levels in United Kingdom is 1,740 Persons, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 15.4% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment levels in United Kingdom peaked at 3,092 Persons in 1986 and was at its lowest, 1,304 Persons, in 2022.
That places United Kingdom 7th out of 32 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 43 years of available data.
Monthly unemployment levels in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Persons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 2,827 Persons | — |
| 1984 | 2,897 Persons | +2.5% |
| 1985 | 3,059 Persons | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 3,092 Persons | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 2,862 Persons | -7.5% |
| 1988 | 2,388 Persons | -16.6% |
| 1989 | 2,020 Persons | -15.4% |
| 1990 | 1,964 Persons | -2.8% |
| 1991 | 2,446 Persons | +24.6% |
| 1992 | 2,786 Persons | +13.9% |
| 1993 | 2,934 Persons | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 2,681 Persons | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 2,441 Persons | -9.0% |
| 1996 | 2,301 Persons | -5.7% |
| 1997 | 1,991 Persons | -13.5% |
| 1998 | 1,790 Persons | -10.1% |
| 1999 | 1,728 Persons | -3.5% |
| 2000 | 1,587 Persons | -8.1% |
| 2001 | 1,488 Persons | -6.2% |
| 2002 | 1,528 Persons | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 1,488 Persons | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 1,422 Persons | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 1,462 Persons | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 1,669 Persons | +14.1% |
| 2007 | 1,654 Persons | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 1,786 Persons | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 2,402 Persons | +34.5% |
| 2010 | 2,496 Persons | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 2,592 Persons | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 2,570 Persons | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 2,472 Persons | -3.8% |
| 2014 | 2,025 Persons | -18.1% |
| 2015 | 1,780 Persons | -12.1% |
| 2016 | 1,633 Persons | -8.2% |
| 2017 | 1,476 Persons | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 1,380 Persons | -6.5% |
| 2019 | 1,314 Persons | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 1,573 Persons | +19.7% |
| 2021 | 1,546 Persons | -1.7% |
| 2022 | 1,304 Persons | -15.7% |
| 2023 | 1,406 Persons | +7.9% |
| 2024 | 1,508 Persons | +7.3% |
| 2025 | 1,740 Persons | +15.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1,740 Persons is above the median for high income countries, which is 336.92 Persons, 5.2× the median. (29 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1,740 Persons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 277.58 Persons, 6.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,735 Persons | 2,020 Persons | 3,092 Persons | 7 |
| 1990s | 2,306 Persons | 1,728 Persons | 2,934 Persons | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,649 Persons | 1,422 Persons | 2,402 Persons | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,974 Persons | 1,314 Persons | 2,592 Persons | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,513 Persons | 1,304 Persons | 1,740 Persons | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 4 France 2,451 Persons compare
- 4 Türkiye 2,971 Persons compare
- 5 Colombia 2,326 Persons compare
- 5 Poland 558 Persons compare
- 6 Japan 1,758 Persons compare
- 6 Netherlands 396.5 Persons compare
- 7 Lithuania 107.75 Persons compare
- 8 Germany 1,666 Persons compare
- 8 Latvia 65.58 Persons compare
- 9 Estonia 55.92 Persons compare
- 9 Mexico 1,631 Persons compare
- 10 Italy 1,571 Persons compare
- 10 Slovenia 40.25 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 monthly unemployment levels in United Kingdom?
- Monthly unemployment levels in United Kingdom was 1,740 Persons in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment levels recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3,092 Persons in 1986.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment levels recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,304 Persons in 2022.
- How does United Kingdom rank for monthly unemployment levels?
- United Kingdom ranks 7th out of 32 countries with data for 2025.
- Is monthly unemployment levels rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment levels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployed population is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.