Unemployment rate in UK at 3.8%, showing robust labor market

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - UK's unemployment rate held at 3.8% in the three months to May, down by 0.1 percentage points, official figures indicated on Tuesday.

The jobless rate defied the market expectation of 3.9%, indicating a robust labor market.

The UK employment rate increased by 0.2 percentage points on the quarter to 75.6%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

However, the figure is still below pre-pandemic levels.

"The number of full-time employees increased over the quarter to a record high however, this was partially offset by a decrease in the number of part-time employees," it also said.

"The most timely estimate of payrolled employees for June 2022 shows a monthly increase, up 31,000 on the revised May 2022 figures, to a record 29.6 million," the data showed.

Meanwhile, the economic inactivity rate went down by 0.4 percentage points to 21.1% in March to May.

.