News · 21 April 2026

Unemployment rate falls to 4.9%, pay growth lowest since 2020

UK workers saw their wage growth slow to the lowest level in over five years, despite an unexpected drop in the unemployment rate. Official figures from the ONS showed the jobless rate fell to 4.9% in the three months to February, down from 5.2% in January. Excluding bonuses, pay increased by 3.6% year on year, marking the lowest growth since November 2020.

By BriefTea Editorial · 21 April 2026 at 8:34

Reported by The Guardian · How we write briefs

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