LONDON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The unemployment rate in the United Kingdom (UK) hit 5.2 percent between November 2025 and January 2026, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released Thursday. This is the highest rate in around five years, ONS said.
The national unemployment rate has been pushed up by the high number of 18- to 24-year-olds who are out of work, which stood at 14 percent in the three months to January.
Meanwhile, annual growth in employees' average total earnings, including bonuses, stood at 3.9 percent during the period. In real terms, adjusted for consumer price index (CPI) inflation, earnings grew by 0.7 percent.
Nevertheless, director of economic statistics at the ONS Liz McKeown said regular wage growth is at its lowest rate in more than five years, with pay growth in both the private and public sectors continuing to fall.
During the same period, the estimated number of payrolled employees fell by 109,000 over the year and by 31,000 over the quarter, the data also showed.
David Bharier, head of research at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: "With unemployment at 5.2 percent for the quarter, and expectations it will continue to rise, there are clear signs that pressure is growing on the labor market."
According to the BCC's latest forecast, unemployment is set to climb to 5.5 percent this year. The three major factors which could shape the outlook are rising labor costs, the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) and growing uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East, Bharier said.
The United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, disrupting global shipping, sending oil prices soaring and shaking the global economy. ■