United Kingdom: The labor market solidifies in Q2
According to the ONS, in March–May the unemployment rate registered 4.8%, unchanged from the previous rolling quarter. Experimental data for June showed that employment rose by 356,000 from May, and is now only around 200,000 short of its pre-pandemic level. Moreover, job vacancies were above pre-pandemic levels in the three months to June, as the economy benefitted from the marked lockdown easing in Q2.
The unemployment rate is still forecast to increase somewhat later this year as government labor market support is wound down, although the extension of the furlough scheme until end-September should delay the rise in unemployment and also limit the extent of the rise.