UK and India see rise in unemployment amid economic pressures

In the United Kingdom, the number of job vacancies fell by 19,000 between March and May, according to the Office for National Statistics, while the unemployment rate edged down to 4.9% from a prior 5%. Wage growth was reported at 3.4% (excluding bonuses) and 4.4% (including bonuses). Officials highlighted the impact of higher labour costs, tax burdens and ongoing instability in the Middle East on the labour market, with the Bank of England facing a balancing act between weak demand and persistent inflation pressures.

In India, official figures show unemployment rising to 5.5% in May, the highest in almost a year, driven by increased rural joblessness. Despite the overall slowdown, demand for remote‑working skills remains strong, especially in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics and cloud computing. Companies are hiring AI engineers, cybersecurity specialists and data analysts on a remote basis, reflecting a shift toward digital and cloud‑based operations.

Both countries are confronting elevated unemployment alongside sector‑specific hiring growth in technology‑related fields.