UK Unemployment Rate steadies at 4.4% in the quarter to January as expected


  • The UK Unemployment Rate stays at 4.4% in three months to January.
  • The Claimant Count Change for Britain came in at 44.2K in January.
  • GBP/USD remains below 1.3000 after mixed UK employment data.

The United Kingdom’s (UK) ILO Unemployment Rate stayed unchanged at 4.4% in the three months to January, data published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed on Thursday. The market consensus was for a 4.4% reading in the reported period.

Additional details of the report showed that the number of people claiming jobless benefits increased by 44.2K in February, compared with a gain of 2.8K in January, missing the expected 7.9K figure.

The Employment Change data for January came in at 144K versus December’s 107K.

Meanwhile, Average Earnings, excluding Bonus, in the UK rose 5.9% three months year-over-year (3M YoY) in January versus a 5.9% growth booked previously. Markets expected a 5.9% print.

Another measure of wage inflation, Average Earnings, including Bonus, advanced 5.8% in the same period after accelerating by a revised 6.1% in the quarter through December. The data surpassed the market forecast of 5.9%.

GBP/USD reaction to the UK employment report

GBP/USD holds lower ground on the release of the UK employment data. The pair is trading 0.02% lower on the day at 1.2985, as of writing.

(This story was corrected on March 20 at 07:09 GMT to say that "Additional details of the report showed that the number of people claiming jobless benefits increased by 44.2K in February, compared with a gain of 2.8K in January," not 22K)

British Pound PRICE Last 7 days

The table below shows the percentage change of British Pound (GBP) against listed major currencies last 7 days. British Pound was the strongest against the Japanese Yen.

  USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF
USD   -0.02% -0.16% 0.04% -0.18% -0.06% -0.81% -0.62%
EUR 0.02%   -0.14% 0.06% -0.17% -0.04% -0.77% -0.60%
GBP 0.16% 0.14%   0.19% -0.03% 0.11% -0.63% -0.45%
JPY -0.04% -0.06% -0.19%   -0.26% -0.11% -0.86% -0.65%
CAD 0.18% 0.17% 0.03% 0.26%   0.14% -0.61% -0.43%
AUD 0.06% 0.04% -0.11% 0.11% -0.14%   -0.73% -0.50%
NZD 0.81% 0.77% 0.63% 0.86% 0.61% 0.73%   0.22%
CHF 0.62% 0.60% 0.45% 0.65% 0.43% 0.50% -0.22%  

The heat map shows percentage changes of major currencies against each other. The base currency is picked from the left column, while the quote currency is picked from the top row. For example, if you pick the British Pound from the left column and move along the horizontal line to the US Dollar, the percentage change displayed in the box will represent GBP (base)/USD (quote).

 

Share: Feed news

Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.

If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.

FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.

The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.

Open Account
Open Account
Open Account
Open Account
Open Account
Open Account

Recommended content


Recommended content

Editors’ Picks

AUD/USD: Bullish outlook seen above the 200-day SMA

AUD/USD: Bullish outlook seen above the 200-day SMA

AUD/USD added to Friday’s advance and came just pips away from the key 0.6500 barrier on the back of the continuation of the selling pressure in the US Dollar and renewed trade concerns.

AUD/USD News
EUR/USD looks supported just below 1.1300

EUR/USD looks supported just below 1.1300

EUR/USD managed to extend its bounce off last week’s troughs, advancing for the second day in a row in response to the extra downward trend in the Greenback and a broad-based risk-on sentiment among traders.

EUR/USD News
Gold moves in a consolidative fashion above $3,300

Gold moves in a consolidative fashion above $3,300

Gold adds to Friday’s advance, reclaiming the $3,300 mark per troy ounce and beyond on the back of rising safe-haven demand following heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. In addition, a persistent uncertainty over US trade policy continues to linger, adding to the upside momentum in the precious metal.

Gold News
Crypto Today: BTC price stumbles below $94K, SUI surges as Trump hints at Hollywood tariffs 

Crypto Today: BTC price stumbles below $94K, SUI surges as Trump hints at Hollywood tariffs 

Cryptocurrency market capitalization settled at $3.1 trillion on Monday, dipping 3% with outflows exceeding $100 billion in the last 24 hours.

Read more
Has the tariff pain peaked?

Has the tariff pain peaked?

Tariff rates may have peaked, but uncertainty hasn’t: Markets may be breathing easier, but investors should not mistake easing conditions for resolution. Even if headline tariff rates stay put, the real risk lies in prolonged policy unpredictability.

Read more
The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD

The Best brokers to trade EUR/USD

SPONSORED Discover the top brokers for trading EUR/USD in 2025. Our list features brokers with competitive spreads, fast execution, and powerful platforms. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, find the right partner to navigate the dynamic Forex market.

Read More

Forex MAJORS

Cryptocurrencies

Signatures

Best Brokers of 2025