Makrognosis

United Kingdom LFS: Econ. inactivity reasons: wants a job: : 16-64:% ()

MonthlyNot seasonally adjustedCode UK.INACTIVE.M.NSA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF7F.MEASURE-RATE

Latest22.7%July 2026
Previous23.0%June 2026
Year ago22.5%July 2025

United Kingdom LFS: Econ. inactivity reasons: wants a job: : 16-64:% () was 22.7% in July 2026, down 0.3 percentage points from June 2026 and up 0.2 percentage points from a year earlier.

That is the lowest reading since July 2025.

Over the past ten years it has ranged from 18.1% (Jan 2024) to 25.4% (Apr 2020), averaging 21.7%.

United Kingdom LFS: Econ. inactivity reasons: wants a job: : 16-64:% () (%), Apr 1993 – Jul 202617.5%20.0%22.5%25.0%27.5%1995200020052010201520202025Robomacro
United Kingdom LFS: Econ. inactivity reasons: wants a job: : 16-64:% () (%), 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 202622.7%
June 202623.0%
May 202623.5%
April 202623.5%
March 202623.9%
February 202623.6%
January 202623.2%
December 202523.1%
November 202523.1%
October 202523.1%
September 202523.3%
August 202523.1%
July 202522.5%
June 202522.4%
May 202522.4%
April 202522.2%
March 202521.7%
February 202521.7%
January 202522.1%
December 202421.4%
November 202421.2%
October 202420.9%
September 202420.4%
August 202420.3%

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

Get United Kingdom LFS: Econ. inactivity reasons: wants a job: : 16-64:% () 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.NSA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF7F.MEASURE-RATE"

# Python
import requests
r = requests.get("https://makrognosis.robomacro.com/v1/series/UK.INACTIVE.M.NSA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF7F.MEASURE-RATE",
                 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
Units%
AdjustmentNot seasonally adjusted
10-year high25.4% (Apr 2020)
10-year low18.1% (Jan 2024)
10-year average21.7%
Source agencyUK Office for National Statistics
Makrognosis codeUK.INACTIVE.M.NSA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF7F.MEASURE-RATE

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: 16-64: 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: SA

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 lFS: Econ. inactivity reasons: wants a job: : 16-64:% () in United Kingdom?
The latest reading is 22.7% 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.NSA.AGE-16-64.ITEM-LF7F.MEASURE-RATE.

Last updated 2026-10-20. Source: UK Office for National Statistics. Original title: “LFS: Econ. inactivity reasons: wants a job: UK: 16-64:% (UK)”.