Unemployment in the UK rose to 4.6% in February-April from 4.5% in January-March, according to data from the country’s Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The figure was in line with forecasts by analysts polled by Trading Economics.
The average number of unemployed people aged 16 and over in the country in February-April was 1.64 million, an increase of 95,000 compared to November-January and 116,000 compared to the same period last year.
At the same time, the average number of employed Britons over the age of 16 in February-April increased by 667,000 year-on-year to 34.011 million. The share of employed people aged 16 to 64 was 75.1%.
The number of employees in April decreased by 55,000 (0.2%) compared to March and by 115,000 (0.4%) compared to April last year.
In May, according to preliminary estimates, the number of employees in the country decreased by 109,000 in monthly terms and by 274,000 in annual terms, amounting to 30.2 million people.
Annual average wage growth in the UK in February-April, including bonuses, was 5.3%, while the forecast was 5.5% and excluding bonuses, 5.2%. Analysts had expected a figure of 5.4%.
