Makrognosis

United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA ()

MonthlySeasonally adjustedCode UK.INACTIVE.M.SA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF8B.MEASURE-LEVEL

Latest19.00 thousandsJuly 2026
Previous23.00 thousandsJune 2026
Year ago22.00 thousandsJuly 2025

United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA () was 19.00 thousands in July 2026, down 17.4% from June 2026 and down 13.6% from a year earlier.

Over the past ten years it has ranged from 9.00 thousands (Apr 2022) to 71.00 thousands (Jan 2021), averaging 22.98 thousands.

United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA () (thousands), Apr 1993 – Jul 20260501001501995200020052010201520202025Robomacro
United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA () (thousands), Apr 1993 – Jul 2026. Source: UK Office for National Statistics.

Showing the full history (downsampled for display). Open the interactive chart to zoom and switch transforms.

Recent data

PeriodValue
July 202619.00 thousands
June 202623.00 thousands
May 202620.00 thousands
April 202624.00 thousands
March 202621.00 thousands
February 202621.00 thousands
January 202618.00 thousands
December 202516.00 thousands
November 202516.00 thousands
October 202524.00 thousands
September 202527.00 thousands
August 202527.00 thousands
July 202522.00 thousands
June 202520.00 thousands
May 202521.00 thousands
April 202522.00 thousands
March 202521.00 thousands
February 202517.00 thousands
January 202517.00 thousands
December 202417.00 thousands
November 202417.00 thousands
October 202411.00 thousands
September 202411.00 thousands
August 202414.00 thousands

Last 24 observations. The full history (400 observations) is available through the API.

Get United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA () in your code or spreadsheet

One guessable code, agency-direct, updated on release. Free tier available.

curl -H "X-API-Key: $MAKROGNOSIS_KEY" \
  "https://makrognosis.robomacro.com/v1/series/UK.INACTIVE.M.SA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF8B.MEASURE-LEVEL"

# Python
import requests
r = requests.get("https://makrognosis.robomacro.com/v1/series/UK.INACTIVE.M.SA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF8B.MEASURE-LEVEL",
                 headers={"X-API-Key": KEY})
obs = r.json()["observations"]
Get a free API key → · API docs

About this series

Latest observationJuly 2026
First observationApril 1993
Observations400
FrequencyMonthly
Unitsthousands
AdjustmentSeasonally adjusted
10-year high71.00 thousands (Jan 2021)
10-year low9.00 thousands (Apr 2022)
10-year average22.98 thousands
Source agencyUK Office for National Statistics
Makrognosis codeUK.INACTIVE.M.SA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF8B.MEASURE-LEVEL

More United Kingdom INACTIVE series

United Kingdom Discouraged workers level people: 000s ()United Kingdom Discouraged workers level women: 000s ()United Kingdom East - 16-64 inactive levels: 000s: SA: People ()United Kingdom East - Working age inactive levels: 000s: SA: Men ()United Kingdom East Midlands - 16-64 inactive levels SA: Women ()United Kingdom East Midlands - 16-64 inactive levels: 000s: SA: People ()United Kingdom East Midlands - Working age inactive levels: 000s: SA: Men ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Does not want a job: Retired: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Does not want a job: Retired: 16-64: Men: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Does not want a job: Retired: 16-64: Women: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: Men: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: Women: Thousands: SA ()United Kingdom Economic inactivity rate: : All: Aged 16-64: SAUnited Kingdom Economically inactive Rate:Total (16-64):ALL:% (ended 2019) ()United Kingdom Economically inactive level 65 + People: 000s ()United Kingdom Economically inactive level 65 + Women: 000s ()United Kingdom Economically inactive rate 65 + People: % ()United Kingdom Economically inactive rate 65 + Women: % ()United Kingdom Economically inactive: : All: Aged 16-64: Thousands: SAUnited Kingdom Economically inactive: student by country of birth (16-64): EU (EU27) born: thousands (ended 2019) ()

Other United Kingdom indicators

United Kingdom GDP (Gross Domestic Product)United Kingdom Nominal GDP (current prices)United Kingdom Inflation Rate (CPI)United Kingdom Core Inflation RateUnited Kingdom Unemployment RateUnited Kingdom Credit Rating & Sovereign Risk ScoreUnited Kingdom Industrial ProductionUnited Kingdom Production Industries - Total (Index 1dp): CVM SAUnited Kingdom Retail SalesUnited Kingdom Producer Price Inflation (PPI)United Kingdom BoP Current Account Balance SAUnited Kingdom Trade Balance: Goods & ServicesUnited Kingdom Total Trade (TT): WW: Exports: BOP: CP: SA (goods + services)United Kingdom Total Trade: World: Exports: BOP: CVM SAUnited Kingdom Total Trade (TT): WW: Imports: BOP: CP: SA (goods + services)United Kingdom Total Trade: World: Imports: BOP: CVM SA

FAQ

What is the current economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA () in United Kingdom?
The latest reading is 19.00 thousands for July 2026, published by UK Office for National Statistics.
Where does this data come from?
It is collected directly from UK Office for National Statistics and is available through the Makrognosis API under the code UK.INACTIVE.M.SA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF8B.MEASURE-LEVEL.

Last updated 2026-10-20. Source: UK Office for National Statistics. Original title: “Economic inactive: Wants job: Discouraged workers: 16-64: 16-64: Thousands: SA (UK)”.