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UK Job Market Dips as Unemployment Hits 4.8%

11/5/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The UK unemployment rate rose from 4.4% to 4.8% over the past year, signaling a worsening job market.
Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, describes the National Insurance increase as a "jobs tax" that has driven hiring freezes and redundancies, especially in the pub industry.
Economic forecasts project 1.5% GDP growth this year, with inflation persisting and potential tax rises expected to hinder recovery and strain support for the unemployed.

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Story summary

The UK unemployment rate rose from 4.4% to 4.8% over the past year, signaling a worsening job market.
Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, describes the National Insurance increase as a "jobs tax" that has driven hiring freezes and redundancies, especially in the pub industry.
Economic forecasts project 1.5% GDP growth this year, with inflation persisting and potential tax rises expected to hinder recovery and strain support for the unemployed.