The UK added 232k jobs in the three months to July, slightly lower than the 239k added in the three months to June, slightly ahead of expectations of a 220k increase. In July alone, 29k jobs were added, the 4th straight month of job gains.

• The unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.7%, as expected, and was up 0.1 ppts in the last three months and 0.5 ppts in the last year.
• The total number of unemployed is only up 34k in the three months to July, down from 59k in the three months to June.
• The economic inactivity rate dropped -0.2 ppts to 21.1% in the three months to July and was down -0.8 ppts from a year ago.

UK job vacancies fell -10k (-1.4%) in the three months to August 2025 to 728k, marking the 38th consecutive quarterly decline and reflecting sustained labor market cooling.

• Vacancies were down -119k (-14.0% YoY) compared with the same period in 2024, and remain -67k (-8.4%) below their pre-COVID Jan–Mar 2020 level.
• Half of the 18 industry sectors reported declines in vacancies, showing broad-based weakness.
• The number of unemployed people per vacancy rose to 2.3 in May–Jul 2025, up from 2.2 in the prior quarter, indicating easing hiring conditions.
• UK workforce jobs totaled 36.8M in June 2025, down -182k (-0.5%) from March 2025, with a sharp drop in self-employment (-159k, -3.7%) offsetting stable employee jobs (-3k).
• On a YoY basis, workforce jobs were up +139k (+0.4%), led by human health and social work activities (+68k, +1.3%).

UK regular pay growth slowed to 4.8% YoY in July 2025 (from 5.0% YoY previously), the lowest since early 2022, while total pay growth was 4.7% YoY, slightly higher than 4.6% YoY in June.

• In real terms (CPIH-adjusted), regular pay rose 0.7% YoY (vs 0.9% previously), and total pay increased 0.5% YoY, unchanged from the prior three-month period.
• Using CPI as the deflator, real regular pay grew 1.2% YoY, while real total pay rose 1.0%, both above CPIH-based measures.
• Public sector regular pay growth was 5.6% YoY, slightly down from 5.7%, while total pay growth was 5.1% (vs 5.3% previously).
• Private sector regular pay growth slowed to 4.7% YoY (from 4.8%), with total pay at 4.6% YoY, its lowest since Jan–Mar 2021.
• The wholesaling, retailing, hotels, and restaurants sector recorded the strongest annual regular earnings growth among industries.

UK payrolled employment fell -8k (0.0%) MoM in August 2025 to 30.3M, down -127k (-0.4%) YoY, reflecting ongoing softness in the labor market.

• July’s decline was revised from -8k to -6k as additional real-time information submissions were incorporated.
• The health and social work sector added +80k employees YoY, the largest gain across industries.
• Accommodation and food service activities saw the largest drop, with employment down -90k YoY.
• Median monthly pay rose +6.6% YoY in August 2025, showing strong wage growth despite weaker employment trends.
• Pay growth was highest in health and social work (+11.0% YoY) and lowest in professional, scientific, and technical activities (+3.3% YoY).