Unemployment rate in UK at 3.8% in Q2, in line with expectations

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - The unemployment rate in the UK was up 0.1 percentage point to 3.8% in the second quarter of the year, in line with market expectations, official data showed on Tuesday.

"The number of people unemployed for up to 12 months increased during the latest three-month period, with those unemployed for between 6 and 12 months increasing for the first time since February to April 2021," said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

From May to July, the number of job vacancies posted a decrease of 19,800 to 1.2 million from the previous quarter. It was the first quarterly fall since the June-August period in 2020.

"Since vacancies fell to an all-time low in April to June 2020, they have increased by 945,000 in a little over two years," added the ONS.

Meanwhile, the employment rate for people aged 16-64 declined by 0.1 percentage point on the quarter to 75.5% and is still below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.

The number of people in employment increased by 160,000 in April-June, below the market forecast for a 256,000 rise.