Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom

United Kingdom: Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 29.9% in 2019. ▼ Falling

Latest (2019)
29.9%
Change on year
down 7.4%
World rank
36th
of 43 countries
All-time high
70.1%
in 1999
All-time low
29.9%
in 2019
Years of data
22
1998–2019

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom, 1998–2019

0204060801998200820191998: 69.9 Percentage1999: 70.1 Percentage2000: 70 Percentage2001: 69.1 Percentage2002: 68.2 Percentage2003: 67.3 Percentage2004: 64.8 Percentage2005: 62.4 Percentage2006: 64 Percentage2007: 63 Percentage2008: 62.6 Percentage2009: 65.8 Percentage2010: 64 Percentage2011: 62 Percentage2012: 58.7 Percentage2013: 55.4 Percentage2014: 47.9 Percentage2015: 41.7 Percentage2016: 38 Percentage2017: 35.2 Percentage2018: 32.3 Percentage2019: 29.9 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

The most recent figure for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom is 29.9%, measured in 2019. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.4% on the previous year and down 54.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom peaked at 70.1% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 29.9%, in 2019.

United Kingdom ranks 36th of 43 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom, year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment in United Kingdom, 1998 to 2019.
Year Percentage Change
1998 69.9%
1999 70.1% +0.3%
2000 70.0% -0.1%
2001 69.1% -1.3%
2002 68.2% -1.3%
2003 67.3% -1.3%
2004 64.8% -3.7%
2005 62.4% -3.7%
2006 64.0% +2.6%
2007 63.0% -1.6%
2008 62.6% -0.6%
2009 65.8% +5.1%
2010 64.0% -2.7%
2011 62.0% -3.1%
2012 58.7% -5.3%
2013 55.4% -5.6%
2014 47.9% -13.5%
2015 41.7% -12.9%
2016 38.0% -8.9%
2017 35.2% -7.4%
2018 32.3% -8.2%
2019 29.9% -7.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 70.0% 69.9% 70.1% 2
2000s 65.7% 62.4% 70.0% 10
2010s 46.5% 29.9% 64.0% 10

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 33 Malta 38.8% compare
  2. 34 Ireland 36.9% compare
  3. 35 Türkiye 35.0% compare
  4. 36 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 29.9% compare
  5. 38 Portugal 29.6% compare
  6. 39 Netherlands 29.1% compare
  7. 39 Netherlands 29.1% compare

See the full ranking of 43 places →

More work & labour data for United Kingdom

All data for United Kingdom →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom was 29.9% in 2019, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in United Kingdom?
The highest recorded value was 70.1% in 1999.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 29.9% in 2019.
How does United Kingdom rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
United Kingdom ranks 36th out of 43 countries with data for 2019.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in United Kingdom?
Over the last ten years it is down 54.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment-2/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
43 places, 931 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed