Business · 17 February 2026
Jobless rate climbs to 5.2 per cent in December
Official figures show that unemployment across the UK reached its highest point for nearly five years in late 2025. Young adults are suffering the most, with 16.1 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 currently without work. Many businesses cited increased hiring costs from recent budgets as the reason for fewer vacancies. While health services added staff, the retail sector slashed 65,000 jobs.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs