MNI BRIEF: UK Data Shows "Weakening Labour Market" - ONS

UK payroll numbers fell by 117,000 (0.4%) in the year to September 2025 and by 32,000 m/m, the Office for National Statistics said Tuesday.

Provisional data for October showed a decline of 180,000 y/y, and 32,000 m/m, leaving the standing total of payroll jobs at 30.3 million. The unemployment rate jumped to 5% in the 3 months to September, up from 4.8% in the period to August. At 5%, it is the highest since the 3 months to Feb 2021.

Employees' average earnings ex-bonuses) rose 4.6%, and total earnings rose 4.8% in July to September, with average regular earnings growth at 4.2% for the private sector and 6.6% for the public sector.

ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said “taken together these figures point to a weakening labour market."