Unemployment: ICLS13) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Unemployment: ICLS13) was 1,224 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment of previously employed persons in United Kingdom, 1987–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment of previously employed persons in United Kingdom stood at 1,224.
The figure is up 13.8% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment of previously employed persons in United Kingdom peaked at 3,012 in 1987 and was at its lowest, 941.92, in 2019.
United Kingdom ranks 11th of 106 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 38 years of available data.
Unemployment: ICLS13) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 3,012 | — |
| 1988 | 2,485 | -17.5% |
| 1989 | 2,075 | -16.5% |
| 1990 | 1,974 | -4.9% |
| 1991 | 2,414 | +22.3% |
| 1993 | 2,670 | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 2,459 | -7.9% |
| 1995 | 2,198 | -10.6% |
| 1996 | 2,064 | -6.1% |
| 1997 | 1,741 | -15.6% |
| 1998 | 1,776 | +2.0% |
| 1999 | 1,475 | -17.0% |
| 2000 | 1,338 | -9.3% |
| 2001 | 1,134 | -15.2% |
| 2002 | 1,230 | +8.4% |
| 2003 | 1,178 | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 1,107 | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 1,135 | +2.5% |
| 2006 | 1,280 | +12.8% |
| 2007 | 1,247 | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 1,353 | +8.6% |
| 2009 | 1,905 | +40.7% |
| 2010 | 1,936 | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 1,954 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 1,987 | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 1,860 | -6.4% |
| 2014 | 1,520 | -18.3% |
| 2015 | 1,328 | -12.7% |
| 2016 | 1,209 | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 1,116 | -7.7% |
| 2018 | 1,050 | -5.9% |
| 2019 | 941.92 | -10.3% |
| 2020 | 1,200 | +27.4% |
| 2021 | 1,337 | +11.4% |
| 2022 | 943.48 | -29.4% |
| 2023 | 1,011 | +7.2% |
| 2024 | 1,076 | +6.4% |
| 2025 | 1,224 | +13.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1,224 is above the median for high income countries, which is 130.18, 9.4× the median. (53 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1,224 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 156.26, 7.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2,524 | 2,075 | 3,012 | 3 |
| 1990s | 2,086 | 1,475 | 2,670 | 9 |
| 2000s | 1,291 | 1,107 | 1,905 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,490 | 941.92 | 1,987 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,132 | 943.48 | 1,337 | 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 unemployment of previously employed persons in United Kingdom?
- Unemployment of previously employed persons in United Kingdom was 1,224 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 3,012 in 1987.
- What is the lowest unemployment of previously employed persons recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 941.92 in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom rank for unemployment of previously employed persons?
- United Kingdom ranks 11th out of 106 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment of previously employed persons rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Unemployment of previously employed persons (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). 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. The unemployed comprise all persons of working age who were: a) without work during the reference period, i.e. were not in paid employment or self-employment; b) currently available for work, i.e. were available for paid employment or self-employment during the reference period; and c) seeking work, i.e. had taken specific steps in a specified recent period to seek paid employment or self-employment. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. 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 Labour Force Statistics (LFS and STLFS) database description.