UK unemployment rises and wage growth slows as jobs market ‘weakens’

<p>ONS data shows jobless rate climbing to highest rate since June 2021 with growth in average earnings slowing to 5%.</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/17/the-rise-in-unemployment-shows-the-uk-jobs-market-is-cooling-but-it-is-not-collapsing">Analysis: the UK jobs market is cooling, not collapsing</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2025/jul/17/uk-labour-market-weakens-unemployment-rate-rises-wage-growth-slows-vacancies-payrolls-business-live-news-updates">Business live – updates</a></p></li></ul><p></p><p>Unemployment climbed and wage growth slowed in the three months to May, according to official figures that will pressure the Bank of England to cut interest rates next month.</p><p>Data from the Office for National Statistics, released on Thursday, showed that Britain’s official unemployment rate rose to 4.7% in the three months to May, up 0.1% from April to reach the highest level since June 2021.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jul/17/rise-in-uk-unemployment-and-slowing-wage-growth-add-new-pressure-for-interest-rate-cut">Continue reading...</a>