Business

Surprise drop in UK unemployment to 4.7% as John Healey’s first budget looms

The Guardian Business · 20 October 2026 at 09:39

Surprise drop in UK unemployment to 4.7% as John Healey’s first budget looms

ONS data shows rate down from 4.9% but number of job vacancies continues to shrink Business live – news updates Unemployment in the UK fell unexpectedly in the three months to August, to 4.7% from 4.9%.

The Office for National Statistics figures, which provide a backdrop to the budget on 28 October, also showed that the number of payrolled employees rose by 13,000 between August and September, to 30.3m.

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Surprise drop in UK unemployment to 4.7% as John Healey’s first budget looms

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