UK unemployment rate rises to 5.2%, the highest level in nearly five years

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Tom KnowlesFebruary 17, 2026 at 08:15 AM

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The UK's unemployment rate has reached 5.2%, the highest level since early 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This increase occurred in the three months leading to December. Wage growth is also slowing, with private sector pay rising at its lowest rate in five years. The number of people on company payrolls has decreased, signaling weak hiring activity. Economists suggest that rising minimum wage and national insurance contributions may be contributing to the rising unemployment, especially among younger workers. These figures suggest the Bank of England is likely to cut interest rates by the spring.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Peter Dixon ×260% Liz McKeown 70% Rachel Reeves ×280% United Kingdom ×4100%

Keywords

unemployment rate 100% wage growth 80% interest rates 70% uk economy 60% payrolls 60% joblessness 50% minimum wage 50% youth employment 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.40

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The Guardian - World News

Classification Confidence

90%

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United Kingdom

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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unemployment rate wage growth interest rates uk economy payrolls joblessness minimum wage youth employment

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