The United Kingdom’s unemployment rate climbed to 4.3% from July to September 2024, up from 4% in the prior three-month period and surpassing the forecasted 4.1%.
UK jobless rates rises more than expected
This increase marks the highest unemployment level since the three months ending in May and was largely driven by a rise in short-term unemployment (individuals unemployed for up to six months). Longer-term unemployment also remained elevated compared to the previous year and showed an uptick over this period.
Employed people rise
In contrast, the number of employed individuals rose by 220,000 to 33.31 million, with year-over-year gains mainly in full-time employment. The share of individuals with second jobs declined, now making up 3.7% of all employed workers. Meanwhile, the economic inactivity rate held steady at 21.8%, unchanged from the prior period.
