UK Unemployment Rises to 4.3% as Job Vacancies Hit Three-Year Low

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal a cooling labor market amid tax hikes and slowing wage growth.

The UK's unemployment rate increased to 4.3% in the three months to September, up from 4% in the previous quarter.
Job vacancies fell for the 28th consecutive month, reaching 831,000, the lowest since May 2021.
Wage growth slowed, with regular earnings rising by 4.8% annually, the lowest pace in over two years.
Businesses face increased costs due to higher National Insurance contributions and a rise in the national minimum wage.
Concerns grow over the reliability of ONS data, with experts urging caution when interpreting recent labor market figures.