Unemployment in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Unemployment was 1,756 in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment in United Kingdom, 2005–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
In 2025, unemployment in United Kingdom stood at 1,756.
That represents a change of up 15.4% on the previous year and down 4.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment in United Kingdom peaked at 2,668 in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1,244, in 2019.
That places United Kingdom 9th out of 58 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Unemployment in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 1,479 | — |
| 2006 | 1,685 | +13.9% |
| 2007 | 1,674 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 1,803 | +7.7% |
| 2009 | 2,420 | +34.3% |
| 2010 | 2,525 | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 2,616 | +3.6% |
| 2012 | 2,668 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 2,002 | -25.0% |
| 2014 | 1,825 | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 1,832 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 1,636 | -10.7% |
| 2017 | 1,509 | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 1,401 | -7.1% |
| 2019 | 1,244 | -11.2% |
| 2020 | 1,543 | +24.1% |
| 2021 | 1,645 | +6.6% |
| 2022 | 1,281 | -22.1% |
| 2023 | 1,385 | +8.1% |
| 2024 | 1,522 | +10.0% |
| 2025 | 1,756 | +15.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 1,756 is above the median for high income countries, which is 266.61, 6.6× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 1,756 is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 266.61, 6.6× the median. (34 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,812 | 1,479 | 2,420 | 5 |
| 2010s | 1,926 | 1,244 | 2,668 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,522 | 1,281 | 1,756 | 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 in United Kingdom?
- Unemployment in United Kingdom was 1,756 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest unemployment recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2,668 in 2012.
- What is the lowest unemployment recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,244 in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom rank for unemployment?
- United Kingdom ranks 9th out of 58 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.1%. 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 (previous ILO definition - ICLS13). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
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. The term disability, as defined in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), is used as an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. For measurement purposes, a person with disability is defined as a person who is limited in the kind or amount of activities that he or she can do because of ongoing difficulties due to a long-term physical condition, mental condition or health problem. For more information, refer to the Disability Labour Market Indicators (DLMI) database description.