UK unemployment climbs to five-point-two percent amid slower wage growth

More people are seeking work as hiring slows, with officials and opposition debating solutions affecting local workers and communities.

Transcript

00:02The UK's unemployment rate rose to 5.2% in the final months of 2025, approaching its highest

00:09level in nearly five years, official statistics show. Figures from the Office for National

00:14Statistics highlight weaker hiring activity, though more people without jobs are actively

00:19seeking work. Wages grew 3.4% in the private sector, while overall wage growth slowed.

00:25Work and Pension Secretary Pat McFadden said hundreds of thousands more people are employed

00:30compared with last year, but acknowledged challenges remain. Opposition figures argue taxes, business

00:36rates and regulation are hampering hiring and investment across communities nationwide.