---
title: "UK wage growth steady as unemployment rises to 5%"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286958288.md"
description: "UK regular wages grew 3.4% in early 2026, meeting economist expectations, while unemployment rose to 5% in March from 4.9% in February. This marks a 0.5 percentage point increase year-on-year. Ongoing inflation concerns are exacerbated by rising energy prices linked to the Iran war, affecting the Bank of England's policy decisions."
datetime: "2026-05-19T19:41:18.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286958288.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286958288.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286958288.md)
---

# UK wage growth steady as unemployment rises to 5%

Pay growth steady: Regular UK wages grew 3.4% in early 2026, aligning with economist predictions despite a softer labor market. Jobless rate climbs: Unemployment rose to 5% in March, up from 4.9% in February and 0.5 percentage points higher than a year earlier. Inflation pressures persist: Energy price surges linked to the Iran war are adding to inflation concerns, influencing the Bank of England's policy stance.

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