The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
November 10, 2020UK LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, JULY 2020 TO SEPTEMBER 2020 
The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported today that the unemployment rate for the three-month period July 2020 to September 2020 averaged 4.8 per cent, up 0.8 percentage points since the beginning of the year.
The UK employment rate among those aged 16-64 averaged 75.3 per cent from July to September, down about 1 percentage point since the beginning of the year.
Despite easing of restrictions related to COVID-19 transmission, UK unemployment and inactivity rates are rising while the employment rate is falling. There have been recent increases in hours worked and job vacancies, but these remain well below pre-pandemic levels. Employee pay rates are also recovering as many are returning to work from furlough.
The impact of COVID-19 is more apparent in falling employment and labour force in Canada and Nova Scotia for April 2020 and started to rebound in May to October 2020. In contrast, furloughed workers are still considered to be employed in the UK, which mutes the impact of COVID-19 on UK employment and labour force.
Sources: UK Office for National Statistics: Labour Market Overview
Statistics Canada Table 14-10-0287-02 Labour force characteristics by age group, monthly, seasonally adjusted
<--- Return to Archive
