UK Unemployment Rate Climbs to 4.5% in Early 2025

According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the United Kingdom's unemployment rate has increased to 4.5% in the first quarter of 2025. This figure aligns with analysts' expectations and shows a rise from the previous quarter's statistics.

Employment and Vacancy Trends

The employment rate remained steady at 75%, showing no change from the last three-month period. However, the number of job vacancies experienced a decline, dropping by 42,000 to 761,000 between February and April.

Wage Growth Insights

On a brighter note, average regular pay, when adjusted for inflation, saw an annual increase of 1.8% in the quarter leading up to March. In nominal terms, earnings surged by 5.6%. Including bonuses, the inflation-adjusted average pay grew by 1.7%, with nominal average weekly earnings rising by 5.5%.