1. Other pages in this release
Other commentary from the latest labour market data can be found on the following pages:
Back to table of contents2. Main points
November 2021 to January 2022 estimates show a continuing recovery in the labour market compared with the previous three-month period (August to October 2021), with an increase in the employment rate and a decrease in the unemployment rate, while economic inactivity increased on the quarter.
Total hours worked increased compared with the previous three-month period but are still below pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels.
The UK employment rate was estimated at 75.6%, 0.1 percentage points higher than the previous three-month period, but 1.0 percentage points lower than before the coronavirus pandemic (December 2019 to February 2020).
The UK unemployment rate was estimated at 3.9%, 0.2 percentage points lower than the previous three-month period, and returning to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.
The UK economic inactivity rate was estimated at 21.3%, 0.1 percentage points higher than the previous quarter, and 1.1 percentage point higher than before the coronavirus pandemic.
4. Summary
Level/Rate | Change from previous three- month period | Change on year | Change since December 2019 to February 2020 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Employment (000s, aged 16 years and over) | 32,493 | -12 | +380 | -580 |
Employment rate (aged 16 to 64 years) | 75.6% | +0.1pp | +0.9pp | -1.0pp |
Unemployment (000s, aged 16 years and over) | 1,336 | -88 | -402 | -28 |
Unemployment rate (aged 16 years and over) | 3.9% | -0.2pp | -1.2pp | 0.0pp |
Economically inactive (000s, aged 16 to 64 years) | 8,790 | +44 | +10 | +420 |
Economic inactivity rate (aged 16 to 64 years) | 21.3% | +0.1pp | 0.0pp | +1.1pp |
Total weekly hours (millions) | 1,029.1 | +4.7 | +70.2 | -23.1 |
Redundancies (000s, aged 16 years and over, not seasonally adjusted) | 68 | -29 | -250 | -38 |
Redundancy rate (per thousand, aged 16 years and over, not seasonally adjusted) | 2.4 | -1.0 | -9.0 | -1.4 |
Download this table Table 1: November 2021 to January 2022 headline measures and changes
.xls .csvFigure 1: November 2021 to January 2022 estimates show an increase in the employment and economic inactivity rates compared with the previous three-month period, while the unemployment rate decreased
UK employment, unemployment and economic inactivity rates, seasonally adjusted, between November 2006 to January 2007 and November 2021 to January 2022
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During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there was a decrease in the employment rate and increases in the economic inactivity and unemployment rates for both men and women (Figure 2).
During the latest three-month period, after the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), there was an increase in the employment rate for women while the rate for men was largely unchanged. The decrease in the unemployment rate and the increase in the inactivity rate were driven by both men and women.
Figure 2: Following large falls over the coronavirus pandemic, the employment rates for men and women have returned to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels
UK economic status rates by sex, seasonally adjusted, cumulative change from December 2019 to February 2020, for each period up to November 2021 to January 2022
Source: Office for National Statistics – Labour Force Survey
Download this chart Figure 2: Following large falls over the coronavirus pandemic, the employment rates for men and women have returned to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels
Image .csv .xlsYoung people (those aged 16 to 24 years) have been particularly affected by the coronavirus pandemic, with the employment rate decreasing and the unemployment and economic inactivity rates increasing by more than seen for those aged 25 years and over. During the last three-month period, however, there was an increase in the employment rate and a decrease in the unemployment rate for young people to below pre-coronavirus pandemic rates (Figure 3). The inactivity rate for young people also decreased compared with the previous three-month period.
Figure 3: The employment rate for young people (those aged 16 to 24 years) has increased over the latest three-month period, while the unemployment rate for young people is at pre-coronavirus levels
UK economic status rates by age, people aged 16 to 24 years and 25 years and over, seasonally adjusted, cumulative change from December 2019 to February 2020, for each period up to November 2021 to January 2022
Source: Office for National Statistics – Labour Force Survey
Download this chart Figure 3: The employment rate for young people (those aged 16 to 24 years) has increased over the latest three-month period, while the unemployment rate for young people is at pre-coronavirus levels
Image .csv .xls5. Employment
Following an increase in the employment rate since early 2012, the rate decreased from the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in December 2019 to February 2020. However, there has been an increase since the end of 2020.
Full-time employees drove the increase in the employment rate during the latest three-month period. While the number of part-time employees decreased strongly during the coronavirus pandemic, the number has been increasing since April to June 2021 (Figure 4). However, the number of self-employed workers remains low following decreases throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Figure 4: Part-time workers continued to recover while self-employment remained low following large falls during the coronavirus pandemic
UK employment by full-time and part-time workers (people aged 16 years and over), seasonally adjusted, cumulative change from December 2019 to February 2020, for each period up to November 2021 to January 2022
Source: Office for National Statistics - Labour Force Survey
Download this chart Figure 4: Part-time workers continued to recover while self-employment remained low following large falls during the coronavirus pandemic
Image .csv .xlsHours worked
Total actual weekly hours worked in the UK have been increasing since the relaxation of coronavirus lockdown measures. Compared with the previous three-month period, total actual weekly hours worked increased by 4.7 million hours to 1.03 billion hours in November 2021 to January 2022 (Figure 5). However, this is still 23.1 million below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels (December 2019 to February 2020).
Figure 5: Total actual weekly hours worked increased during the latest three-month period
UK total actual weekly hours worked, people aged 16 years and over, seasonally adjusted, between November 2006 to January 2007 and November 2021 to January 2022
Source: Office for National Statistics – Labour Force Survey
Download this chart Figure 5: Total actual weekly hours worked increased during the latest three-month period
Image .csv .xls6. Unemployment
The unemployment rate had generally been falling since late 2013 up until the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in December 2019 to February 2020. It increased since then but has now returned to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.
Figure 6: The decrease in unemployment over the latest three-month period was driven by those unemployed for over six months
UK unemployment by duration, people aged 16 years and over, seasonally adjusted, between November 2016 to January 2017 and November 2021 to January 2022
Source: Office for National Statistics – Labour Force Survey
Download this chart Figure 6: The decrease in unemployment over the latest three-month period was driven by those unemployed for over six months
Image .csv .xlsThose unemployed for between 6 and 12 months have returned to pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, and those unemployed for up to 6 months decreased from the previous three-month period to a record low level. Meanwhile, those unemployed for over 12 months saw the fourth consecutive decrease over a three-month period since May to July 2020 (Figure 6).
Back to table of contents7. Economic inactivity
Since comparable records began in 1971, the economic inactivity rate has generally been falling; however, it increased during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Figure 7: Recent increases in economic inactivity have been driven by those aged 50 to 64 years
UK economic inactivity by age, seasonally adjusted, cumulative change from December 2019 to February 2020, for each period up to November 2021 to January 2022
Source: Office for National Statistics – Labour Force Survey
Download this chart Figure 7: Recent increases in economic inactivity have been driven by those aged 50 to 64 years
Image .csv .xlsDuring the coronavirus pandemic, increases in economic inactivity compared with the previous three-month period were largely driven by those aged 16 to 24 years. However, the number of economically inactive people aged 16 to 24 years has been decreasing since early 2021, with those aged 50 to 64 years driving the recent increases in economic inactivity (Figure 8). Yesterday, we published an article looking at this age group in more detail.
Figure 8: The increase in economic inactivity compared with the previous three-month period was driven by those inactive because of long-term sickness and those who are retired
UK economic inactivity by reason, people aged 16 to 64 years, seasonally adjusted, between December 2019 to February 2020, for each period up to November 2021 to January 2022
Source: Office for National Statistics – Labour Force Survey
Notes:
- Discouraged workers are those who are not looking for work because they believe no jobs are available.
- Other reasons for being economically inactive include those who are waiting for the results of a job application; have not yet started looking for work; do not need or want employment; have given an uncategorised reason for being economically inactive; or have not given a reason for being economically inactive.
Download this chart Figure 8: The increase in economic inactivity compared with the previous three-month period was driven by those inactive because of long-term sickness and those who are retired
Image .csv .xlsThe increase in economic inactivity since the start of the coronavirus pandemic (December 2019 to February 2020) was largely driven by those who are economically inactive because they are students or for “other” reasons (Figure 9). In the latest three-month period, however, those who are economically inactive because they are students continued to decrease, while the increase, compared with the latest three-month period, was driven by those who are economically inactive because of long-term sickness and those who retired.
Back to table of contents8. Redundancies
In November 2021 to January 2022, reports of redundancies in the three months prior to interview decreased by 1.0 per thousand employees, compared with the previous three-month period, to a record low of 2.4 per thousand employees (Figure 10).
Figure 9: The redundancy rate decreased to a record low following the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
UK redundancy rate, people aged 16 years and over, not seasonally adjusted, between November 2006 to January 2007 and November 2021 to January 2022
Source: Office for National Statistics
Notes:
- Redundancy rate is the ratio of the redundancy level to the number of employees in the previous quarter, multiplied by 1,000.
Download this chart Figure 9: The redundancy rate decreased to a record low following the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Image .csv .xlsWe are now also publishing a table showing potential redundancies, covering those notified by employers to the Insolvency Service via the "HR1" form, broken down by region and industry.
Back to table of contents9. Employment in the UK data
Employment, unemployment and economic inactivity
Dataset A05 SA | Released 15 March 2022
Estimates of UK employment, unemployment and economic inactivity broken down into age bands.
Full-time, part-time and temporary workers
Dataset EMP01 SA | Released 15 March 2022
Estimates of UK employment including a breakdown by sex, type of employment, and full-time and part-time working.
Actual weekly hours worked
Dataset HOUR01 SA | Released 15 March 2022
Estimates for the hours that people in employment work in the UK.
Unemployment by age and duration
Dataset UNEM01 SA | Released 15 March 2022
Estimates of unemployment in the UK including a breakdown by sex, age group and the length of time people are unemployed.
Economic inactivity by reason
Dataset INAC01 SA | Released 15 March 2022
Estimates of those not in the UK labour force measured by the reasons given for economic inactivity.
10. Glossary
Actual and usual hours worked
Statistics for usual hours worked measure how many hours people usually work per week. Compared with actual hours worked, they are not affected by absences and so can provide a better measure of normal working patterns. For example, a person who usually works 37 hours a week but who was on holiday for a week would be recorded as working zero actual hours for that week, while usual hours would be recorded as 37 hours.
Workers temporarily absent from a job as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic would still be classed as employed; however, they would be employed working no hours. This has directly affected estimates of total actual hours worked during the coronavirus pandemic. Since the average actual weekly hours are the average of all in employment, those temporarily absent from a job also affected these estimates.
Economic inactivity
People not in the labour force (also known as economically inactive) are not in employment but do not meet the internationally accepted definition of unemployment because they have not been seeking work within the last four weeks and/or are unable to start work in the next two weeks. The economic inactivity rate is the proportion of people aged between 16 and 64 years who are not in the labour force.
Employment
Employment measures the number of people in paid work or who had a job that they were temporarily away from (for example, because they were on holiday or off sick). This differs from the number of jobs because some people have more than one job. The employment rate is the proportion of people aged between 16 and 64 years who are in employment.
Workers furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), or those who are self-employed but temporarily not in work, have a reasonable expectation of returning to their jobs after a temporary period of absence. Therefore, they are classified as employed under the International Labour Organization definition.
A more detailed explanation is available in our Guide to labour market statistics.
Redundancies
The redundancy estimates measure the number of people who were made redundant or who took voluntary redundancy in the three months before the Labour Force Survey interviews; it does not take into consideration planned redundancies.
Unemployment
Unemployment measures people without a job who have been actively seeking work within the last four weeks and are available to start work within the next two weeks. The unemployment rate is not the proportion of the total population who are unemployed. It is the proportion of the economically active population (that is, those in work plus those seeking and available to work) who are unemployed.
A more detailed glossary is available.
Back to table of contents11. Measuring the data
This bulletin relies on data collected from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), the largest household survey in the UK.
More quality and methodology information on strengths, limitations, appropriate uses, and how the data were created is available in the LFS Quality and Methodology Information (QMI) report.
The LFS performance and quality monitoring reports provide data on response rates and other quality-related issues for the LFS.
Reweighting
LFS responses published from 15 July 2021 have been reweighted to new populations using growth rates from HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) Real Time Information (RTI), to allow for different trends during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our Impact of reweighting on Labour Force Survey key indicators, UK: 2020 article explains the reweighting methodology, which gives improved estimates of both rates and levels.
When the recent weighting methodology for LFS was applied, there was a small error in the calculation of the growth rates used. The impact on LFS economic activity estimates at national level is mostly below 0.1%, and the impact on rates is less than 0.02 percentage points. We plan to reweight Labour Force Survey (LFS) and Annual Population Survey (APS) datasets that include data from March 2020 using RTI data published today. Last month, we said that we would provide further details on our plans including a timeline in our March Labour Market publication. Since then, new data became available that we need to analyse and consider before firming up our timeline, which we will do as soon as possible.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
View more information on how labour market data sources are affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
View a comparison of our labour market data sources and the main differences.
Making our published spreadsheets accessible
Following the Government Statistical Service (GSS) guidance on releasing statistics in spreadsheets we will be amending our published tables over the coming months to improve usability, accessibility and machine readability of our published statistics. To help users change to the new formats we will be publishing sample versions of a selection of our tables, and where practical, initially publish the tables in both the new and current formats. If you have any questions or comments, please email labour.market@ons.gov.uk.
Back to table of contents12. Strengths and limitations
Uncertainty in these data
The estimates presented in this bulletin contain uncertainty.
The figures in this bulletin come from the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which gathers information from a sample of households across the UK rather than from the whole population. The sample is designed to be as accurate as possible given practical limitations. Results from sample surveys are always estimates, not precise figures. This can have an impact on how changes in the estimates should be interpreted, especially for short-term comparisons.
The data in this bulletin come from the Labour Force Survey, a survey of households. It is not practical to survey every household each quarter, so these statistics are estimates based on a large sample.
As the sample gets smaller, the variability of the estimates gets larger. Estimates for small groups, which are based on small subsets of the LFS sample, are less reliable and tend to be more volatile than for larger aggregated groups.
In general, changes in the numbers (and especially the rates) reported in this bulletin between three-month periods are small and are not usually greater than the level that can be explained by sampling variability. Short-term movements in reported rates should be considered alongside longer-term patterns in the series and corresponding movements in other sources to give a fuller picture.
Information on the quality of estimates is available in our Labour Force Survey sampling variability table.
Comparability
The data in this bulletin follow internationally accepted definitions specified by the International Labour Organization (ILO). This ensures that the estimates for the UK are comparable with those for other countries.
The annual reconciliation report of job estimates article, which compares the latest workforce jobs series estimates with the equivalent estimates of jobs from the LFS and is usually published every March, has been postponed until we are able to take the latest adjustments to the LFS into account.
Further information is available in A guide to labour market statistics.
Back to table of contents