<p>ONS data shows rate down from 4.9% but number of job vacancies continues to shrink</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/oct/20/uk-unemployment-rate-pre-budget-boost-wages-vacancies-latest-news-updates">Business live – news updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Unemployment in the UK fell unexpectedly in the three months to August, to 4.7% from 4.9%.</p><p>The Office for National Statistics figures, which provide a backdrop to the budget on 28 October, also showed that the number of payrolled employees rose by 13,000 between August and September, to 30.3m.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/20/uk-unemployment-rate-surprise-drop">Continue reading...</a>
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Surprise drop in UK unemployment to 4.7%
<p>ONS data shows rate down from 4.9% but number of job vacancies continues to shrink</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/oct/20/uk-unemployment-rate-pre-budget-boost-wages-vacancies-latest-news-updates">Business live – news updates</a></p></li></ul><p>Unemployment in the UK fell unexpectedly in the three months to August, to 4.7% from 4.9%.</p><p>The Office for National Statistics figures, which provide a backdrop to the budget on 28 October, also showed that the number of payrolled employees rose by 13,000 between August and September, to 30.3m.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/oct/20/uk-unemployment-rate-surprise-drop">Continue reading...</a>