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UK unemployment unexpectedly rises to 5% as firms squeezed by Iran war
UK NewsPoliticsBusiness•May 19, 2026 at 8:44 AMNational

UK unemployment unexpectedly rises to 5% as firms squeezed by Iran war

By Tom Knowles•The Guardian - UK News

Pay growth eases to 3.4% as businesses face pressure from soaring energy costsAnalysis: No feelgood factor for ReevesUnemployment in the UK has unexpectedly risen to 5% while wage growth has slowed, according to official figures, in the first snapshot of how companies are reacting to the impact of the Iran war.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment was up in the three months to March, from 4.9% in the three months to February, a rate that City economists had expected to hold steady. Continue reading...

Pay growth eases to 3.4% as businesses face pressure from soaring energy costs

Unemployment in the UK has unexpectedly risen to 5% while wage growth has slowed, according to official figures, in the first snapshot of how companies are reacting to the impact of the Iran war.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment was up in the three months to March, from 4.9% in the three months to February, a rate that City economists had expected to hold steady.

Continue reading...

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