The rate of UK unemployment in the UK has risen to 5% in a blow to Rachel Reeves, according to the new official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the increase occurred in the three months leading up to September.

That’s the highest rate recorded since the three months up to February 2021 amid the Covid pandemic.

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the 2025 UK unemployment rate?

The ONS revealed today that unemployment rose to 5.0% in the three months to the end of September. That’s up from 4.8% in the previous quarter, and works out to an increase in unemployment to 1.8 million.

We do not know the rate for the whole year yet as the data for October, November and December still need to be collected.

What is the youth unemployment rate?

There’s been an

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