U.K. Unemployment Rate 1991-2023

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.
  • U.K. unemployment rate for 2021 was 4.53%, a 0.05% increase from 2020.
  • U.K. unemployment rate for 2020 was 4.47%, a 0.73% increase from 2019.
  • U.K. unemployment rate for 2019 was 3.74%, a 0.26% decline from 2018.
  • U.K. unemployment rate for 2018 was 4.00%, a 0.33% decline from 2017.
Data Source: World Bank

MLA Citation:
Similar Country Ranking
Country Name Unemployment Rate (%)
New Caledonia 16.57%
Greece 14.80%
Spain 14.73%
French Polynesia 14.39%
Virgin Islands (U.S.) 13.27%
Bahamas 13.24%
Panama 12.09%
Argentina 10.90%
Uruguay 10.45%
Barbados 10.41%
Italy 9.83%
Chile 9.13%
Croatia 8.68%
Sweden 8.66%
Puerto Rico 8.27%
France 8.06%
Lithuania 7.90%
Brunei 7.65%
Latvia 7.60%
Finland 7.53%
Canada 7.51%
Channel Islands 7.37%
Saudi Arabia 7.36%
Guam 6.98%
Slovak Republic 6.74%
Portugal 6.65%
Ireland 6.63%
Belgium 6.42%
Estonia 6.33%
Austria 6.30%
Cyprus 6.13%
United States 5.46%
Iceland 5.40%
Switzerland 5.32%
Hong Kong 5.32%
Luxembourg 5.23%
Australia 5.11%
Israel 5.05%
Norway 4.99%
Trinidad and Tobago 4.81%
Denmark 4.80%
United Kingdom 4.53%
Slovenia 4.42%
New Zealand 4.12%
Hungary 4.12%
Netherlands 4.01%
Kuwait 3.71%
Singapore 3.62%
Germany 3.54%
South Korea 3.53%
Malta 3.50%
Poland 3.37%
UAE 3.36%
Oman 3.12%
Macao 3.01%
Czech Republic 2.89%
Japan 2.80%
Bahrain 1.87%
Qatar 0.26%
U.K. Unemployment Rate - Historical Data
Year Unemployment Rate (%) Annual Change
2021 4.53% 0.05%
2020 4.47% 0.73%
2019 3.74% -0.26%
2018 4.00% -0.33%
2017 4.33% -0.48%
2016 4.81% -0.49%
2015 5.30% -0.81%
2014 6.11% -1.41%
2013 7.52% -0.36%
2012 7.88% -0.16%
2011 8.04% 0.25%
2010 7.79% 0.25%
2009 7.54% 1.92%
2008 5.62% 0.36%
2007 5.26% -0.09%
2006 5.35% 0.60%
2005 4.75% 0.16%
2004 4.59% -0.22%
2003 4.81% -0.23%
2002 5.04% 0.34%
2001 4.70% -0.86%
2000 5.56% -0.48%
1999 6.04% -0.16%
1998 6.20% -0.87%
1997 7.07% -1.12%
1996 8.19% -0.50%
1995 8.69% -0.96%
1994 9.65% -0.70%
1993 10.35% 0.57%
1992 9.78% 1.23%
1991 8.55% 1.23%