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 11.1% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
11.1%
Change on year
down 61.3%
World rank
43rd
of 44 countries
All-time high
69.9%
in 1998
All-time low
11.1%
in 2020
Years of data
23
1998–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom, 1998–2020

2040601998200920201998: 69.9 Percentage1999: 68.4 Percentage2000: 65.4 Percentage2001: 64.6 Percentage2002: 64.7 Percentage2003: 63.6 Percentage2004: 62.6 Percentage2005: 62.2 Percentage2006: 63.7 Percentage2007: 61.6 Percentage2008: 63.7 Percentage2009: 66 Percentage2010: 63 Percentage2011: 61 Percentage2012: 55.9 Percentage2013: 52.6 Percentage2014: 45.7 Percentage2015: 39.4 Percentage2016: 35.5 Percentage2017: 34.6 Percentage2018: 32.3 Percentage2019: 28.7 Percentage2020: 11.1 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

United Kingdom recorded 11.1% for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 23 years on record.

That represents a change of down 61.3% on the previous year and down 82.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in United Kingdom peaked at 69.9% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 11.1%, in 2020.

That places United Kingdom 43rd out of 44 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 23 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 - quarterly data in United Kingdom, 1998 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
1998 69.9%
1999 68.4% -2.1%
2000 65.4% -4.4%
2001 64.6% -1.2%
2002 64.7% +0.2%
2003 63.6% -1.7%
2004 62.6% -1.6%
2005 62.2% -0.6%
2006 63.7% +2.4%
2007 61.6% -3.3%
2008 63.7% +3.4%
2009 66.0% +3.6%
2010 63.0% -4.5%
2011 61.0% -3.2%
2012 55.9% -8.4%
2013 52.6% -5.9%
2014 45.7% -13.1%
2015 39.4% -13.8%
2016 35.5% -9.9%
2017 34.6% -2.5%
2018 32.3% -6.6%
2019 28.7% -11.1%
2020 11.1% -61.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 69.2% 68.4% 69.9% 2
2000s 63.8% 61.6% 66.0% 10
2010s 44.9% 28.7% 63.0% 10
2020s 11.1% 11.1% 11.1% 1

Countries ranked near United Kingdom

  1. 40 Spain 23.3% compare
  2. 41 Romania 21.9% compare
  3. 42 Italy 17.8% compare
  4. 43 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 11.1% compare

See the full ranking of 46 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 11.1% in 2020, 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 69.9% in 1998.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in United Kingdom?
The lowest recorded value was 11.1% in 2020.
How does United Kingdom rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
United Kingdom ranks 43rd out of 44 countries with data for 2020.
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 82.4%. 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 - quarterly data. 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/united-kingdom-2/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
46 places, 991 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed