ONS figures show a rise in youth unemployment

-

women unemployedAccording to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK unemployment fell by 4,000 in the three months to June, meaning 2.51 million people were still out of work.

The figures show that the unemployment rate remains at 7.8%, with the ONS stating that the findings indicate unemployment was “broadly unchanged” from the first three months of the year.

Despite the overall unemployment rate remaining the same though, youth unemployment, among those aged 16-24, increased by 15,000 to 973,000, while the number of people out of work for more than two years also rose by 10,000 to 474,000 – the highest number in 16 years.

However, the number of people in work increased by 69,000 in the three months to June, which is up to 29.78 million and is the highest level since records began in 1971.

HRreview Logo

Get our essential weekday HR news and updates.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Keep up with the latest in HR...
This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is hidden when viewing the form
Optin_date
This field is hidden when viewing the form

 

Commenting on today’s figures, TUC General Secretary, Frances O’Grady, said:

“The jobs news is mixed. A further rise in employment is encouraging but the number of young people out of work is creeping back towards a million.”

However, David Morel, Director of Tiger Recruitment, said the job market was “definitely moving in the right direction”, stating:

“Slowly but surely the employment rate is moving up.

“Encouragingly, almost all sectors of the economy are hiring more than they were 12 months ago. The recovery of the jobs market is well balanced and this bodes well for the future.”

He added:

“Noticeably, there has been nowhere near the usual lull in activity during July and August.”

Pamela Flores is an events professional with experience at Symposium Events, a UK-based conference and events organization. She has worked in editorial and event coordination roles within the HR and expatriate management sector, contributing to the organization of major conferences including the Expatriate Management and Global Mobility conference. Her background spans online editorial work and events management within the professional conference industry.

Latest news

Curtis Holmes: Payroll is the driver for employee engagement

Payroll has long been treated as a back-office necessity: essential, but not something that shapes culture or drives engagement. This no longer stands.

Labour market yet to show major AI impact on jobs, govt adviser says

A government economic adviser has challenged predictions of widespread AI-driven unemployment, arguing labour market data has yet to show disruption.

Young workers ‘pressured into signing NDAs after workplace injuries’

Workers say injuries are being hidden behind confidentiality agreements while financial pressures leave many afraid to challenge unsafe conditions.

CIPD recognises 30 HR leaders driving change across UK workplaces

The CIPD has unveiled its HR30 list for 2026, recognising senior people leaders whose work has delivered measurable impact across organisations and workforces.
- Advertisement -

Brits dream of being their own boss, but still cling to the monthly pay cheque, survey reveals

Britons say they like the idea of self-employment, but most still value the security and stability of traditional jobs.

AI Coaching Won’t Replace Managers. It Will Expose Coaching Debt.

As AI coaching expands, employers may gain a clearer view of where manager support is falling short.

Must read

Rebecca Plant: The perfect match – How to set up a successful apprenticeship scheme

I sometimes think of myself as more of a matchmaker...

Lucinda Bromfield: Online presence

As I was wondering what to write as my...
- Advertisement -

You might also likeRELATED
Recommended to you