UK Employment at Highest Since 1971

The UK employment rate was estimated at 76.1%, higher than for a year earlier (75.3%) and the highest figure on record.

The UK unemployment rate was estimated at 3.9%; it has not been lower since November 1974 to January 1975.

The UK economic inactivity rate was estimated at 20.7%, lower than for a year earlier (21.2%) and the lowest figure on record.

Excluding bonuses, average weekly earnings for employees in Great Britain were estimated to have increased by 3.4%, before adjusting for inflation, and by 1.4%, after adjusting for inflation, compared with a year earlier.

Including bonuses, average weekly earnings for employees in Great Britain were estimated to have increased by 3.4%, before adjusting for inflation, and by 1.5%, after adjusting for inflation, compared with a year earlier.

Image courtesy of the ONS:Unemployment rates Jan - March 1971 to November 2018. 

Unemployment measures people without a job who have been actively seeking work within the last four weeks and are available to start work within the next two weeks. The unemployment rate is the proportion of all employed and unemployed people (not the proportion of the total population) who are unemployed.

The unemployment rates for men and women aged 16 years and over have been generally falling since late 2013.

For November 2018 to January 2019, the unemployment rate:

• for everyone aged 16 years and over was estimated at 3.9%; it has not been lower since November 1974 to January 1975
• for men was estimated at 4.0%; it has not been lower since April to June 1975
• for women was estimated at 3.8%, the lowest since comparable records began in 1971

For November 2018 to January 2019 an estimated 1.34 million people were unemployed, 112,000 fewer than for a year earlier. There have not been fewer unemployed people in the UK since October to December 1975.

ABC Note: Many people are still not able to get jobs and why have wages fallen if so many people are bidding to get work. Figures are compiled from a survey and if you have one hours work you are in full time employment.