UK Employment Change (May) 147K vs. Exp. 85.0K (Prev. 100K)

The UK's employment change for May came in significantly higher than expected, suggesting a stronger labor market than many analysts anticipated.

Newsquawk StaffPublished 21 Jul 2026, 06:20 UTCOn the live feed at 06:00 UTC — 1 more headline followed before this page went public

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UK Employment Change (May) 147K vs. Exp. 85.0K (Prev. 100K)

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Newsquawk Daily European Equity Opening News - 21st July 2026

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ONS:

Private sector regular wage growth fell below 3% for the first time since 2020, while public sector wage growth remains elevated, affected by the timing of recent NHS pay awards.
There were fewer Labour Force Survey interviews conducted in the latest period because of an operational issue, but ONS analysis suggests the impact on headline estimates is minimal.
The latest data show a relatively steady labour market picture overall, though some measures continue to suggest softening.
The number of employees on payroll was broadly flat in the latest month, while survey estimates suggest employment, unemployment and inactivity rates were broadly flat.
Vacancies fell again over the quarter, but by less than in recent periods. The latest decrease was driven mainly by smaller businesses where labour and operating costs were cited as factors in not taking on new staff.

Context

However, the decline in wage growth, especially in the private sector falling below 3%, indicates potential wage pressure that could influence future inflation dynamics and possibly monetary policy. Overall, while labor market metrics showed stabilization, the mixed signals highlight a complex economic landscape.

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