Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. We examine what the figures tell us both about the health of our labour market, and what they mean for people’s experiences of work, with a particular focus on groups facing labour market disadvantage.

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Labour market summary

This chart shows the percentage of those aged 16 to 64 who were in employment, were economically inactive, or unemployed, in each quarter over the past 10 years. The x-axis indicates the end date of each quarter. The y-axis to the left of the chart shows the scale for the employment rate, while the y-axis to the right of the chart shows the scale for the rates of economic inactivity and unemployment.

Source: Labour Force Survey

Last updated on 20 January 2026

Percentage of young people not in employment or full time education

This chart shows changes over the past 10 years in the percentage of young people aged 16 to 17 and 18 to 24 who are not in employment or full-time education. The x-axis indicates the end date of each quarter.

Source: Labour Force Survey

Last updated on 20 January 2026

Employment rate gaps

This chart shows how differences in the employment rate between each of the groups described and the reference categories listed have changed over the past 10 years. The y-axis shows the percentage point gap between each of the two groups and the x-axis indicates the end date of each quarter.

Source: Labour Force Survey and Annual Population Survey

Last updated on 20 January 2026

Benefits

This chart shows how the number of people of working age who were seeking work, or were not required to work due to each of the reasons listed, has changed over the past 10 years. The y-axis is expressed in millions and shows the total number of individuals in each category observed at quarterly intervals, up to the most recent time point currently available.

Source: DWP StatXplore and ONS Labour Force Survey

Last updated on 20 January 2026

International

This chart shows how the percentage of the working age population in employment in G7 countries has changed between the period immediately prior to the pandemic and the most recent quarter currently available for all countries.

Source: OECD

Last updated on 20 January 2026