Employment in the UK: November 2025

11th November 2025

In July to September 2025, the estimated UK employment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 75.0%.

The UK unemployment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points to 5.0%.

The UK economic inactivity rate was largely unchanged at 21.0%, compared with April to June 2025.

Following an increase in the employment rate since early 2012, there was a decrease from the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There had been an increase since the end of 2020, followed by a decrease between mid-2023 and early 2024. The rate then increased until mid-2024 and has been relatively stable since.

The employment rate decreased in the latest quarter (July to September 2025) but increased over the year.

In the latest quarter (July to September 2025) the decrease in employment was because of decreases in the number of full-time workers. Over the year since July to September 2024, we have seen increases in employment numbers across employees and the self-employed for both full-time and part-time workers.

Following increases in 2024 and early 2025, the number of people with second jobs increased slightly in the latest quarter (July to September 2025) and increased over the year to 1.329 million (3.9% of people in employment).

Hours worked
The number of total actual weekly hours worked has generally been increasing in the UK since 2020. Total actual weekly hours worked decreased in the latest quarter (July to September 2025) but increased over the year. Both men's and women's working hours decreased in the latest quarter and men's working hours decreased while women's working hours increased over the year.

Average actual weekly hours worked decreased in the latest quarter and over the year.

Unemployment
Following decreases since late 2013, the unemployment rate increased during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. From early 2021, it decreased to below pre-coronavirus rates until mid-2022. The rate has been largely increasing since.

In the latest quarter (July to September 2025), those unemployed for up to 6 months or over 12 months increased but the number of those unemployed between 6 and 12 months decreased. The number of people unemployed for up to 6 months, between 6 and 12 months, and over 12 months, increased over the year, since July to September 2024. The increase in the number of people unemployed in the latest quarter was the result of an increase in the number of unemployed men.

The unemployment rate increased in the latest quarter (July to September 2025) and over the year since July to September 2024.

Read the full ONS report HERE