UK jobs market was in a fragile state – even before Iran war threatened recovery
Despite surprise fall in unemployment, weak wage growth and inflation pressures put the squeeze on workers
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/21/uk-enemployment-rate-pay-growth-ons-interest-rates">UK unemployment shows surprise fall to 4.9%
https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/apr/21/wage-growth-level-unemployment-rate-falls-iran-war-business-latest-news-updates">Business live – latest updates
Despite a https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/21/uk-enemployment-rate-pay-growth-ons-interest-rates">surprise fall in the unemployment rate, the latest jobs data show the labour market in a fragile state, even before the Iran war threatened to derail the UK’s nascent economic recovery.
At 4.9% in the three months to February, the unemployment rate was down from 5.2% in the previous three months, according to the Office for National Statistics.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/21/uk-jobs-market-iran-war-unemployment-wage-growth-inflation">Continue reading...UK unemployment falls unexpectedly
- Unemployment drops sharply as inactivity in jobs market rises The Standard —
- Unemployment falls below 5% in surprise boost for Labour The Independent —
- UK unemployment drops sharply to 4.9%, surprising analysts ITV —
- Unemployment drops sharply as inactivity in jobs market rises LBC —
- UK unemployment shows surprise fall to 4.9% as pay growth drops to lowest in five years The Guardian —