Unemployment with basic education, male (% of male labor force) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Unemployment with basic education, male (% of male labor force) was 8.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment with basic education, male in United Kingdom, 1992–2025
Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of male labor force with basic education.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment with basic education, male in United Kingdom is 8.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 9.8% on the previous year and down 4.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment with basic education, male in United Kingdom peaked at 16.3% in 1993 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 2019.
United Kingdom ranks 47th of 130 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Unemployment with basic education, male (% of male labor force) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of male labor force with basic education | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 15.2% | — |
| 1993 | 16.3% | +7.3% |
| 1994 | 15.5% | -4.4% |
| 1995 | 13.6% | -12.6% |
| 1996 | 13.5% | -0.9% |
| 1997 | 11.4% | -15.2% |
| 1999 | 11.8% | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 11.0% | -6.6% |
| 2001 | 9.5% | -13.7% |
| 2002 | 10.0% | +5.5% |
| 2003 | 9.2% | -8.1% |
| 2004 | 8.9% | -3.3% |
| 2005 | 7.8% | -12.2% |
| 2006 | 7.6% | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 7.5% | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 9.7% | +28.8% |
| 2009 | 12.5% | +28.7% |
| 2010 | 13.5% | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 13.4% | -0.2% |
| 2012 | 13.5% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 12.3% | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 10.5% | -14.7% |
| 2015 | 8.8% | -16.4% |
| 2016 | 8.0% | -9.3% |
| 2017 | 7.2% | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 6.1% | -15.1% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | -10.1% |
| 2020 | 6.9% | +25.8% |
| 2021 | 7.6% | +9.3% |
| 2022 | 6.6% | -13.2% |
| 2023 | 7.6% | +16.1% |
| 2024 | 7.6% | +0.2% |
| 2025 | 8.4% | +9.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 8.4% is above the median for high income countries, which is 7.5%, 1.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 8.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 9.8%, 85% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 13.9% | 11.4% | 16.3% | 7 |
| 2000s | 9.4% | 7.5% | 12.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.9% | 5.5% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.5% | 6.6% | 8.4% | 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 with basic education, male in United Kingdom?
- Unemployment with basic education, male in United Kingdom was 8.4% in 2025, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment with basic education, male recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 16.3% in 1993.
- What is the lowest unemployment with basic education, male recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 2019.
- How does United Kingdom rank for unemployment with basic education, male?
- United Kingdom ranks 47th out of 130 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment with basic education, male rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with basic education, male (% of male labor force with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).