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Data from U.K. Office for National Statistics. Forecasts by Sigmanomics Forecast Engine.
United KingdomUnited Kingdom Unemployment Rate held to 4.9% in June 2026
U.K. Office for National StatisticsMonthlyReleased August 2026
United Kingdom Unemployment Rate held to 4.9% in June 2026, released August 2026. The reading matched expectations. Year-over-year, the indicator is up 0.2%. Over the past 3 months, Unemployment Rate averaged 4.9%, vs 5.03% in the prior 3-month window. Unemployment Rate is now the lowest in 9 months.
Latest Release
4.9
Actual
4.8
Consensus
4.9
Previous
Median Absolute Error
±0.09 percentage points
across last 12 releases
Last Call
Aug 2026
Predicted: 4.75
Actual: 4.9
Error: -0.15
Sigmacast Σ-direction model: consensus + ½ × mean(surprise, trailing 90d).
CORRELATED SYMBOLS— markets that historically move with this indicator
| Symbol | Direction | Correlation | Asset Class | Co-movement | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FTSE 100 | ▲ Direct | +0.65 | INDEX | Moves with | → View |
| BTC/USD | ▼ Inverse | −0.56 | CRYPTO | Moves against | → View |
| GBP/JPY | ▼ Inverse | −0.46 | FOREX | Moves against | → View |
| Euro STOXX 50 | ▲ Direct | +0.32 | INDEX | Moves with | → View |
| EUR/GBP | ▲ Direct | +0.27 | FOREX | Moves with | → View |
Correlation based on 12-month rolling window. Click any symbol to view its Sigmanomics forecast page.
THE RELEASE
Unemployment Rate (United Kingdom) was reported at 4.9% in August 2026. This beat the market consensus of 4.8% by 0.1%. The reading was unchanged from the previous release. Trailing 12-month context per ETL data through August 2026. Over the past 12 months, the indicator has averaged 4.98%, ranging from 4.7% to 5.2% across 11 releases. This is classified as a high-impact indicator released on a monthly basis.
WHY IT MATTERS
The trailing three releases averaged 4.9%, down from the prior three at 5.13%. Volatility over the past year (σ 0.15%) is lower than the prior year (σ 0.19%). In August readings over the past 3 years, Unemployment Rate has averaged 4.6%.
THE MODEL'S TAKE
Historically, this indicator is positively correlated with FTSE 100 (Bullish FTSE 100). A secondary relationship exists with BTC/USD, negatively correlated (Bearish BTC). Over the last 12 releases, the Sigmacast model's median absolute error is 0.09%.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
The next release is scheduled for September 15, 2026. Same-country events in the next 14 days include NIESR Monthly GDP Tracker (Sep 11) and CFTC GBP speculative net positions (Sep 11).
Auto-generated from current model state · Refreshes on each release · Last update August 2026.
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Unemployment Rate - UK
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About Unemployment Rate — United Kingdom
DEFINITION
The Unemployment Rate is a key economic indicator that measures the percentage of the total labor force that is currently without a job and actively seeking employment. It is used to assess the health of the job market and the overall state of the economy. A high unemployment rate can indicate a weak economy, while a low unemployment rate can suggest a strong and growing economy. This data is closely monitored by policymakers, businesses, and investors to make informed decisions and projections.
WHY THIS INDICATOR MATTERS
This release contributes to the broader macro picture used by cross-asset investors for positioning and risk management. Surprises against consensus can drive short-term moves, particularly when the print breaks an established trend. Released monthly.
WHAT CHANGED THIS MONTH
Latest reading (Jun 2026): actual 4.9 %, consensus 4.8 %. Prior reading (May 2026): 4.9 %. Before that (Apr 2026): 4.9 %.
WHAT'S NEXT
Sigmacast's 1-month forecast points to a similar reading versus the latest print, with the 3-month outlook reinforcing that direction. Both horizons are aligned bullish for this indicator, suggesting a consistent trend signal. Trend-driven dynamics are the primary headwind in the current projection. This indicator correlates most strongly with FTSE 100 (Bullish FTSE 100, r=0.65) — a useful reference for index-focused traders.
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Economic Calendar - UK Events
| Friday, September 11, 2026 | Actual | Previous | Consensus | Sigmanomics Rolling-Surprise Forecast | Impact | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06:00 | UK | Manufacturing Production YoY | 2.6 | 0.5 | 2 | 2.30 | Low |
| 06:00 | UK | Balance of Trade | -3.45 | -5.537 | -4 | -4.95 | Low |
| 06:00 | UK | Gross Domestic Product YoY | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.27 | Low |
| 06:00 | UK | Construction Output YoY | -2.5 | -2.3 | -2.3 | -2.17 | Low |
| 06:00 | UK | Industrial Production YoY | 0.6 | -0.2 | 0.2 | 0.28 | Low |
| 06:00 | UK | Gross Domestic Product MoM | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0 | 0.10 | High |
| 06:00 | UK | Manufacturing Production MoM | 0.9 | -0.5 | 0.2 | 0.53 | Medium |
| 06:00 | UK | Industrial Production MoM | 0.2 | -0.2 | -0.2 | -0.13 | Medium |
| 06:00 | UK | Goods Trade Balance | -20.97 | -23.01 | -22.3 | -22.86 | Medium |
| 06:00 | UK | GDP 3-Month Avg | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.33 | Medium |
| 06:00 | UK | Construction Output MoM | 0.1 | -0.1 | 0.1 | 0.30 | Low |
| 06:00 | UK | Balance of Trade Non-EU | -9.66 | -10.45 | -9.3 | -9.48 | Medium |
| 06:00 | UK | NIESR Monthly GDP Tracker | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.33 | Medium |