UK unemployment rose to four-year high of 5.1% before budget

Unemployment in the UK has been rising steadily since late 2023. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

The rate of UK unemployment rose to a four-year high of 5.1% in the three months to October, as the labour market showed signs of further weakening before last month’s budget.

The Office for National Statistics said the jobless rate was the highest since January 2021 – but with the pandemic era stripped out, it was the highest since early 2016.