UK unemployment rate unexpectedly rises from April to June

According to the report from Office for National Statistics, from April to June the UK unemployment rate was estimated at 3.9%; lower than a year earlier (4.0%); on the quarter the rate was 0.1 percentage points higher. Unemployment was expected to remain at 3.8%.

The UK employment rate was estimated at 76.1%, the joint-highest on record since comparable records began in 1971. The UK economic inactivity rate was estimated at 20.7%, a joint-record low.

Estimates for April to June 2019 show 32.81 million people aged 16 years and over in employment, this is a record high and 425,000 more than for a year earlier. This annual increase of 425,000 was mainly because of more people working full-time (up 262,000 on the year to reach 24.11 million). Part-time working also showed an increase of 162,000 on the year to reach 8.70 million.

Estimated annual growth in average weekly earnings for employees in UK increased to 3.7% for total pay (including bonuses) and 3.9% for regular pay (excluding bonuses). Economists had expected an increase to 3.7% for total pay and 3.8% for regular pay.

In real terms (after adjusting for inflation), total pay is estimated to have increased by 1.8% compared with a year earlier, and regular pay is estimated to have increased by 1.9%.