Recruitment market data

Vacancies, unemployment, claimants and pay, the official measures of the UK hiring market, kept current from the source. Each figure shows the period it covers and when the next update is due.

Hiring demand
Labour supply
Pay
Next releases
Key recruitment dates
Job vacancies691,000-20,000UK job vacanciesUK job vacancies was 691,000 in July to September 2026, down 20,000 on April to June 2026.Jul-Sep 2026 · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)
Unemployment rate4.7%-0.2 ptsUK unemployment rateUK unemployment rate was 4.7% in June to August 2026, down 0.2 percentage points on March to May 2026.Jun-Aug 2026 · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)
Employment rate75.3%+0.2 ptsUK employment rateUK employment rate was 75.3% in June to August 2026, up 0.2 percentage points on March to May 2026.Jun-Aug 2026 · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)
Claimant count1,702,905+35,810UK claimant countUK claimant count was 1,702,905 in September 2026, up 35,810 on August 2026.Sep 2026 · next 17 Nov 2026
Regular pay growth3.7%+0.3 ptsUK regular pay growthUK regular pay growth was 3.7% in July to September 2026, up 0.3 percentage points on April to June 2026.Jul-Sep 2026 · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)
National Living Wage£13.21April 2027

Hiring demand

UK job vacancies

July to September 2026 · Vacancies across all employers (Vacancy Survey)

691,000-20,000
UK job vacanciesUK job vacancies was 691,000 in July to September 2026, down 20,000 on April to June 2026.
Oct-Dec 2024Jul-Sep 2026

UK job vacancies falls to 691,000 in July to September 2026.

ONS AP2Y/LMS · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)Data CSV

Number of job vacancies in the UK, three-month average, seasonally adjusted

Data table
PeriodValueStatus
Jul-Sep 2026691,000
Apr-Jun 2026711,000
Jan-Mar 2026718,000
Oct-Dec 2025739,000
Jul-Sep 2025728,000
Apr-Jun 2025730,000
Jan-Mar 2025775,000
Oct-Dec 2024805,000
  • Figures for Jul-Sep 2026, published 20 Oct 2026, 07:00
  • Next update expected 17 Nov 2026, 07:00 (provisional)
  • Source: Office for National Statistics (AP2Y/LMS)
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

UK claimant count

September 2026 · People aged 16 and over claiming unemployment-related benefits

1,702,905+35,810
UK claimant countUK claimant count was 1,702,905 in September 2026, up 35,810 on August 2026.0500,0001,000,0001,500,0002,000,0001,702,905Oct 2024Sep 2025Sep 2026

UK claimant count rises to 1,702,905 in September 2026.

Department for Work and Pensions, via Nomis NM_162_1 · next 17 Nov 2026Data CSV

People claiming unemployment-related benefits (Universal Credit searching for work, and Jobseeker's Allowance), not seasonally adjusted

Data table
PeriodValueStatus
Sep 20261,702,905
Aug 20261,667,095
Jul 20261,660,035
Jun 20261,672,265
May 20261,677,865
Apr 20261,678,250
Mar 20261,693,865
Feb 20261,686,585
Jan 20261,635,860
Dec 20251,625,690
Nov 20251,636,235
Oct 20251,650,220
Sep 20251,657,110
Aug 20251,663,580
Jul 20251,668,595
Jun 20251,697,420
May 20251,691,215
Apr 20251,708,420
Mar 20251,742,415
Feb 20251,750,620
Jan 20251,697,365
Dec 20241,700,385
Nov 20241,726,340
Oct 20241,754,330

Labour supply

UK unemployment rate

June to August 2026 · Aged 16 and over, economically active

4.7%-0.2 pts

The ONS advises caution: Labour Force Survey estimates are of reduced quality.

UK unemployment rateUK unemployment rate was 4.7% in June to August 2026, down 0.2 percentage points on March to May 2026.
Sep-Nov 2024Jun-Aug 2026

UK unemployment rate falls to 4.7% in June to August 2026.

ONS MGSX/LMS · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)Data CSV

Share of economically active people aged 16 and over who are unemployed, seasonally adjusted

Data table
PeriodValueStatus
Jun-Aug 20264.7%
Mar-May 20264.9%
Dec-Feb 20264.9%
Sep-Nov 20255.1%
Jun-Aug 20254.8%
Mar-May 20254.7%
Dec-Feb 20254.5%
Sep-Nov 20244.4%
  • Figures for Jun-Aug 2026, published 20 Oct 2026, 07:00
  • Next update expected 17 Nov 2026, 07:00 (provisional)
  • Source: Office for National Statistics (MGSX/LMS)
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

UK employment rate

June to August 2026 · Aged 16 to 64, all people

75.3%+0.2 pts

The ONS advises caution: Labour Force Survey estimates are of reduced quality.

UK employment rateUK employment rate was 75.3% in June to August 2026, up 0.2 percentage points on March to May 2026.
Sep-Nov 2024Jun-Aug 2026

UK employment rate rises to 75.3% in June to August 2026.

ONS LF24/LMS · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)Data CSV

Share of people aged 16 to 64 who are in work, seasonally adjusted

Data table
PeriodValueStatus
Jun-Aug 202675.3%
Mar-May 202675.1%
Dec-Feb 202675.0%
Sep-Nov 202575.1%
Jun-Aug 202575.1%
Mar-May 202575.2%
Dec-Feb 202575.1%
Sep-Nov 202474.8%
  • Figures for Jun-Aug 2026, published 20 Oct 2026, 07:00
  • Next update expected 17 Nov 2026, 07:00 (provisional)
  • Source: Office for National Statistics (LF24/LMS)
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

UK economic inactivity rate

June to August 2026 · Aged 16 to 64, all people

20.9%No change

The ONS advises caution: Labour Force Survey estimates are of reduced quality.

UK economic inactivity rateUK economic inactivity rate was 20.9% in June to August 2026, no change on March to May 2026.
Sep-Nov 2024Jun-Aug 2026

UK economic inactivity rate unchanged at 20.9% in June to August 2026.

ONS LF2S/LMS · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)Data CSV

Share of people aged 16 to 64 who are neither in work nor looking for work, seasonally adjusted

Data table
PeriodValueStatus
Jun-Aug 202620.9%
Mar-May 202620.9%
Dec-Feb 202621.0%
Sep-Nov 202520.8%
Jun-Aug 202521.0%
Mar-May 202521.0%
Dec-Feb 202521.3%
Sep-Nov 202421.6%
  • Figures for Jun-Aug 2026, published 20 Oct 2026, 07:00
  • Next update expected 17 Nov 2026, 07:00 (provisional)
  • Source: Office for National Statistics (LF2S/LMS)
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Pay

UK regular pay growth

July to September 2026 · Employees in Great Britain

3.7%+0.3 pts
UK regular pay growthUK regular pay growth was 3.7% in July to September 2026, up 0.3 percentage points on April to June 2026.
Oct-Dec 2024Jul-Sep 2026

UK regular pay growth rises to 3.7% in July to September 2026.

ONS KAI9/LMS · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)Data CSV

Average weekly earnings, regular pay excluding bonuses and arrears, whole economy, growth on a year earlier, three-month average, seasonally adjusted

Data table
PeriodValueStatus
Jul-Sep 20263.7%
Apr-Jun 20263.4%
Jan-Mar 20263.6%
Oct-Dec 20254.4%
Jul-Sep 20254.7%
Apr-Jun 20255.0%
Jan-Mar 20255.9%
Oct-Dec 20245.6%
  • Figures for Jul-Sep 2026, published 20 Oct 2026, 07:00
  • Next update expected 17 Nov 2026, 07:00 (provisional)
  • Source: Office for National Statistics (KAI9/LMS)
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Private sector regular pay growth

July to September 2026 · Private sector employees in Great Britain

3.0%+0.1 pts
Private sector regular pay growthPrivate sector regular pay growth was 3.0% in July to September 2026, up 0.1 percentage points on April to June 2026.
Oct-Dec 2024Jul-Sep 2026

Private sector regular pay growth rises to 3.0% in July to September 2026.

ONS KAJ4/LMS · next 17 Nov 2026 (provisional)Data CSV

Average weekly earnings, regular pay, private sector, growth on a year earlier, three-month average, seasonally adjusted

Data table
PeriodValueStatus
Jul-Sep 20263.0%
Apr-Jun 20262.9%
Jan-Mar 20263.2%
Oct-Dec 20253.6%
Jul-Sep 20254.4%
Apr-Jun 20254.9%
Jan-Mar 20255.9%
Oct-Dec 20245.9%
  • Figures for Jul-Sep 2026, published 20 Oct 2026, 07:00
  • Next update expected 17 Nov 2026, 07:00 (provisional)
  • Source: Office for National Statistics (KAJ4/LMS)
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

National Living Wage

April 2027 · Workers aged 21 and over

£13.21

National Living Wage to rise to £13.21 in April 2027.

The legal minimum hourly rate for workers aged 21 and over

Data table
PeriodValueStatus
April 2027£13.21
  • Figures for April 2027, published 30 Oct 2024, 11:07
  • Source: GOV.UK (NLW, 21 and over)
  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Next releases

SeriesPeriodValueChangeReleasedNext releaseStatus
UK job vacanciesJul-Sep 2026691,000-20,00020 Oct 202617 Nov 2026
UK claimant countSep 20261,702,905+35,81017 Nov 2026
UK unemployment rateJun-Aug 20264.7%-0.2 pts20 Oct 202617 Nov 2026
UK employment rateJun-Aug 202675.3%+0.2 pts20 Oct 202617 Nov 2026
UK economic inactivity rateJun-Aug 202620.9%No change20 Oct 202617 Nov 2026
UK regular pay growthJul-Sep 20263.7%+0.3 pts20 Oct 202617 Nov 2026
Private sector regular pay growthJul-Sep 20263.0%+0.1 pts20 Oct 202617 Nov 2026
National Living WageApril 2027£13.2130 Oct 2024

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Claimant count from Nomis.