UK unemployment rose to four-year high of 5.1% before budget

October figure from ONS suggests employers laid off workers, as earnings growth excluding bonuses fell

• Young people hit hard as UK unemployment marches upwards

• Business live – latest updates

The rate of UK unemployment rose to a four-year high of 5.1% in the three months to October, as the labour market showed signs of further weakening before last month’s budget.

The Office for National Statistics said the jobless rate was the highest since January 2021 – but with the pandemic era stripped out, it was the highest since early 2016.