Unemployment – National: Key Economic Indicators

There were 1.64 million unemployed people in the UK in March-May 2021, a fall of 68,000 from the previous quarter but an increase of 222,000 from the year before.

The unemployment rate was 4.8%, (the percentage of the economically active population who are unemployed). This is down from 5.0% from the previous quarter but up from 4.1% from the previous year. The rate reached a post-recession high of 8.5% in late 2011.

Young people

539,000 young people aged 16-24 were unemployed, down 41,000 from the previous quarter and down 24,000 from the year before. The unemployment rate for 16‑24 year olds was 13.5%, up from 13.1% a year before.

Men and women

The unemployment rate for men was 4.9% and the unemployment rate was 4.8% for women.