UK unemployment has climbed to its highest level in five years while wage growth continued to ease, strengthening expectations that the Bank of England will resume cutting interest rates in the coming months.

Official figures from the Office for National Statistics show the jobless rate rose to 5.2 per cent in the three months to December, up from 5.1 per cent in the previous rolling quarter. Unemployment has been edging higher since 2022, reflecting a steady cooling in the labour market.

At the same time, average earnings excluding bonuses increased by 4.2 per cent year-on-year, down from 4.5 per cent in November and in line with economists’ forecasts.

The slowdown comes against a backdrop of higher labour costs following the chancellor’s £25bn rise in employer national insurance contributions introduced in October 2024, alongside increases in the national living wage.

Younger workers appear to be disproportionately affected. Payroll data show that employment among those aged 34 and under has fallen by 242,000 since mid-2024, when overall payroll numbers peaked. By contrast, employment among workers aged 35 and over has risen by 71,000.

Martin Beck, chief economist at WPI Strategy, said higher labour costs were weighing most heavily on entry-level hiring. “At the same time, firms are likely reassessing junior roles in the face of rapid advances in AI,” he added.

The softening labour market has reinforced market bets that the Bank of England will cut rates from their current level of 3.75 per cent. According to Bloomberg data, traders are now pricing in a roughly 76 per cent chance of a rate reduction at the next meeting in March.

Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said the data supported the view that policymakers have “at least a couple more interest rate cuts in their locker”, with the probability of a March move increasing.

At its most recent meeting, the Bank’s monetary policy committee voted 5–4 to hold rates steady, a closer split than anticipated by analysts. Governor Andrew Bailey has since indicated that further policy loosening remains possible this year.

Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG, said the latest figures would reassure rate-setters that pay pressures are easing. “The MPC will take comfort from evidence that the labour market continues to soften,” she said.

Wednesday’s inflation figures will be closely watched. Economists expect the consumer prices index to fall to 3 per cent in January, down from 3.4 per cent in December, driven by lower airfares, easing food prices and slower energy inflation. That would mark the lowest reading since March 2025.

Stephen Kinnock, a health minister, pointed to recent job creation and economic growth, saying the UK had delivered the strongest growth among G7 European economies last year. He added that government initiatives were under way to support employment and apprenticeships.

However, business groups argue that recent employment reforms have made hiring more costly and risky. Alex Hall-Chen of the Institute of Directors said unemployment reaching 5.2 per cent underlined the fragility of the jobs market.

“The best way to boost employment is to make it less risky and less costly for businesses to hire staff,” she said, calling for adjustments to the Employment Rights Act and exemptions for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Jonathan Moyes, head of investment research at Wealth Club, said the alignment of weaker job growth and moderating wages could shift the Bank’s stance. “Wage growth has been the last domino holding back rate cuts,” he said. “Now both employment and wages are weakening, the case for further easing strengthens.”

For policymakers, the message from the data is clear: the labour market is losing momentum, and the balance of risks may now tilt towards supporting growth rather than restraining inflation.

Jamie Young

Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.

When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.

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Topshop is making a nationwide return to bricks-and-mortar retail, launching in 32 John Lewis stores in its most significant high street comeback since the collapse of Arcadia Group in 2020.

The relaunch, which also sees Topman stocked in seven John Lewis locations, marks the first time in four years that the brand has returned to physical retail at scale.

Topshop’s original Oxford Street flagship was once a defining force in British fashion, famously drawing crowds when Kate Moss launched her collection in 2007. Its revival within John Lewis stores aims to recapture some of that cultural resonance.

After Arcadia entered administration, Topshop was acquired by Asos, which later sold a 75 per cent stake in the brand to Heartland, the investment arm of Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, founder of Bestseller.

Historically associated with shoppers aged 16 to 24, Topshop now returns via a retailer traditionally known for appealing to an older demographic. John Lewis said the move is designed to broaden its appeal to younger consumers while reconnecting with millennials who grew up with the brand.

The department store chain has been rebuilding its position after years of intense competition from rivals such as Marks & Spencer, a pandemic-driven shift towards online shopping and previous expansion missteps that left it with excess retail space.

Under a new leadership team, John Lewis has pursued a back-to-basics strategy, focusing on customer service, reintroducing its “never knowingly undersold” pledge and investing heavily in its in-store experience.

The Topshop relaunch coincides with London Fashion Week and features around 130 pieces across denim, tailoring, outerwear and wardrobe staples. Signature styles such as the Jamie and Joni jeans return alongside updated designs. Cara Delevingne fronts the new campaign.

Peter Ruis, managing director of John Lewis, described the partnership as a significant step in its fashion strategy. “To be the exclusive home of an iconic brand like Topshop signals our ambition to be the definitive style authority on the British high street,” he said.

Michelle Wilson, managing director of Topshop, said the partnership would bring the brand back to high streets across the UK “with the level of service our customers expect”.

The relaunch forms part of a wider £800m multi-year investment by John Lewis, which includes refurbishments of key stores, notably its Oxford Street flagship, and the introduction of 14 new fashion brands across womenswear and menswear.

For Topshop, the move represents a symbolic return to physical retail. For John Lewis, it is a calculated bet that brand nostalgia and refreshed fashion credentials can help reignite footfall on Britain’s struggling high streets.

Jamie Young

Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.

When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.

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Australia’s share market has clutched a second session of gains, led by a strong performance from mega miner BHP, which helped offset weak performances elsewhere.

The S&P/ASX200 edged 21.8 points higher on Tuesday, up 0.24 per cent, to 8,958.9, as the broader All Ordinaries rose 18.7 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 9,182.5.

“With US markets closed overnight for Presidents Day and several Asian markets shut for Lunar New Year, local earnings have taken centre stage – and BHP has comfortably stolen the show,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said.

“BHP delivered a blockbuster first-half result, sending its share price up more than 7.5 per cent to a record high of $54.20, before easing back to close 4.7 per cent higher at $52.74.”

The move added an extra $11 billion to the miner’s market cap, taking it to a valuation of $267 billion.

Mining giant BHP has helped push the Australian stock market higher. (Susie Dodds/AAP PHOTOS)

Only four of 11 local sectors ended the day higher, led by a 1.3 per cent boost to raw materials thanks largely to BHP, as gold miners retreated and other sub-sectors were mixed.

Gold itself eased to $US4,898 (A6,937) an ounce, as US dollar strength and risk-on sentiment weighed on the safe haven.

The heavyweight financials sector traded just below flat as Westpac carved out a 0.3 per cent lift and its remaining big four competitors fell behind.

NAB shares fell 0.4 per cent ahead of its first-quarter results announcement on Wednesday.

Energy stocks dipped 0.4 per cent, tracking with a similar move in oil prices ahead of more US-Iran talks over the latter’s nuclear program.

Elsewhere in the segment, coal miners traded lower and uranium stocks were mixed.

Consumer discretionary stocks had a positive day, up 0.5 per cent, with help from JB Hi-Fi after it’s share price jumped by roughly one-fifth in two sessions since reporting a 7.4 per cent sales jump in the recent half.

In other earnings news, Seek fell more than three per cent after it reported a $178 million loss, due in part to an impairment on its stake in Chinese jobs platform Zhaopin.

Shares in Baby Bunting Group rocketed more than eight per cent higher after the maternity and baby goods company posted a 44 per cent increase in first-half underlying net profit compared to the prior corresponding period.

The Lottery Corporation, Suncorp, NAB, Mirvac and GrainCorp will hand down interim results on Wednesday.

The Australian dollar is buying 70.62 US cents, down from 70.88 US cents on Monday at 5pm, dipping slightly following the release of the Reserve Bank’s February meeting minutes.

“While the board cited stronger activity, resilient consumer spending and persistent price pressures as justification for February’s tightening, the absence of a pre-set rate path has kept the currency subdued,” Zerocap analyst Emir Ibrahim said.

“Attention now shifts to this week’s wage price index and labour market data for confirmation on whether domestic strength is sufficient to sustain the RBA’s hawkish bias.”

ON THE ASX:

* The S&P/ASX200 rose 21.8 points, or 0.24 per cent, to 8,958.9

* The broader All Ordinaries gained 18.7 points, or 0.2 per cent, to 9,182.5

CURRENCY SNAPSHOT:

One Australian dollar trades for:

* 70.62 US cents, from 70.88 US cents at 5pm AEDT on Monday

* 108.01 Japanese yen, from 108.58 Japanese yen

* 59.64 euro cents, from 59.73 euro cents

* 51.90 British pence, from 51.96 British pence

* 117.06 NZ cents, from 117.42 NZ cents