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United Kingdom unemployment falls to 4.7% amid rising inflation
The United Kingdom's unemployment rate fell to 4.7% for the three months ending in August, down from 4.9% in the previous period. This marks the lowest level since July 2025. While the employment rate saw a slight improvement to 75.3%, the labor market shows signs of fragility as job vacancies dropped by 21,000 to 691,000 during the July-September quarter.
Economic data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also indicates that annual regular wage growth accelerated to 3.7%. However, inflation has risen to 3.5% for the 12 months leading to September, driven largely by increased motor fuel prices.
Business leaders from the British Chambers of Commerce and the Institute of Directors have warned that rising labor costs are hindering recruitment, particularly among small businesses. These concerns come ahead of the Chancellor's upcoming budget, with calls for tax relief and reduced National Insurance contributions to support growth and employment.
Entities
Bank of England · British Chambers of Commerce · Institute of Directors · Office for National Statistics · United Kingdom
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The number of people claiming unemployment benefits increased by 30,300 in September. www.teleborsa.it
- [● 3 SOURCES] Average wages grew by 3.7% annually in the quarter ending in August. kmetro0.eu · www.teleborsa.it · yorkshiretimes.co.uk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The UK unemployment rate fell to 4.7% for the June-August quarter. kmetro0.eu · www.teleborsa.it · yorkshiretimes.co.uk
- [● 2 SOURCES] Job vacancies decreased by 21,000 during the quarter. kmetro0.eu · yorkshiretimes.co.uk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] 69% of businesses cited labor costs as their biggest pressure. yorkshiretimes.co.uk