March 2026 Employment Rate Hits Record High, Youth Job Figures Decline

In March 2026, the overall employment rate for individuals aged 15 and over reached an all-time high, contrasting sharply with a stagnant job market for young people. Total employment increased by 206,000 year-on-year. The employment rate for those aged 15 and over rose 0.2 percentage points to 62.7%, and the rate for the 15-64 age group increased 0.4 percentage points to 69.7%, marking a record high for March since data collection began.

By age group, employment for those aged 60 and over saw a surge of 242,000 jobs, leading the overall increase. Employment grew by 112,000 for those in their 30s and by 5,000 for those in their 50s. In contrast, employment decreased by 167,000 for those in their 20s and by 5,000 for those in their 40s.

In March 2026, the number of employed youth aged 15-29 fell by 147,000. During this period, the youth employment rate dropped 0.9 percentage points to 43.6%, and the youth unemployment rate rose 0.1 percentage points to 7.6%. This indicates that despite the overall economic recovery, young people continue to face significant difficulties in the job market.

By industry, the health and social work sector saw an increase of 294,000 jobs. However, the construction sector continued to experience a decline with 16,000 fewer jobs, and the manufacturing sector saw a reduction of 42,000 jobs.