Male unemployment — all countries

Male unemployment — United Kingdom

Male unemployment in the United Kingdom in 2025 — 5.06%. Ranked 99 in the world out of 182. Since 1991, the indicator has fallen by 4.38 pp.

2025 5.06% +0.49 pp vs 2024
World rank 99of 182
Period maximum 12.41%1993
Period minimum 3.84%2019

Trend over time

1991–2025 · % of male labor force

Male unemployment — United Kingdom, 1991–202505101519911995199920032007201120152019202320251991: 9.44%1992: 11.62%1993: 12.41%1994: 11.46%1995: 10.12%1996: 9.7%1997: 8.11%1998: 6.89%1999: 6.79%2000: 6.14%2001: 5.19%2002: 5.61%2003: 5.43%2004: 4.94%2005: 5.29%2006: 5.83%2007: 5.66%2008: 6.22%2009: 8.67%2010: 8.79%2011: 8.82%2012: 8.81%2013: 8.27%2014: 6.69%2015: 5.71%2016: 5.04%2017: 4.62%2018: 4.22%2019: 3.84%2020: 4.76%2021: 5.08%2022: 3.91%2023: 4.34%2024: 4.57%2025: 5.06%
Change over the period: −4.38 pp Annual average: -0.13 pp

Comparison, 2025

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: United Kingdom

United Kingdom 5.06%
World 4.69%
Northern Europe computed 5.82%
High-income countries computed 4.31%
Male unemployment — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 5.06 +0.49 pp
2024 4.57 +0.23 pp
2023 4.34 +0.42 pp
2022 3.91 −1.17 pp
2021 5.08 +0.32 pp
2020 4.76 +0.93 pp
2019 3.84 −0.38 pp
2018 4.22 −0.41 pp
2017 4.62 −0.42 pp
2016 5.04 −0.66 pp
2015 5.71 −0.99 pp
2014 6.69 −1.58 pp
2013 8.27 −0.54 pp
2012 8.81 −0.01 pp
2011 8.82 +0.03 pp
2010 8.79 +0.12 pp
2009 8.67 +2.45 pp
2008 6.22 +0.56 pp
2007 5.66 −0.17 pp
2006 5.83 +0.54 pp
2005 5.29 +0.36 pp
2004 4.94 −0.5 pp
2003 5.43 −0.18 pp
2002 5.61 +0.43 pp
2001 5.19 −0.96 pp
2000 6.14 −0.64 pp
1999 6.79 −0.11 pp
1998 6.89 −1.22 pp
1997 8.11 −1.59 pp
1996 9.7 −0.41 pp
1995 10.12 −1.34 pp
1994 11.46 −0.96 pp
1993 12.41 +0.8 pp
1992 11.62 +2.17 pp
1991 9.44

About the indicator

The share of the male labor force that is unemployed. The gap between the sexes shows up only when this series is compared with the female one, and it is not universal — in Southern Europe and Latin America female unemployment is markedly higher, while in a number of countries of Eastern Europe and Africa male unemployment is higher, because men work in industries sensitive to a downturn.

Important: The denominator is the male labor force, not the whole male population: men who neither work nor look for work are not in it.

Source: ILOSTAT (ILO), license CC BY 4.0.