United Kingdom Unemployment Rate

The United Kingdom’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.4% from December to February 2025, unchanged for the fourth consecutive period and in line with expectations. It remains the highest rate since the three months ending May 2024. The number of individuals unemployed for up to 6 months and over 12 months increased, while those unemployed for 6 to 12 months declined. Compared to the same period last year, unemployment rose in both the under-12-month and over-12-month categories. Meanwhile, the number of employed individuals rose by 206 thousand—the largest increase since the three months ending September 2024—reaching a record high of 34 million, largely driven by a rise in full-time employment. The number of people holding second jobs also increased, now representing 3.8% of all employed individuals. Lastly, the economic inactivity rate edged down to 21.4% from 21.5%.