Unemployment rates in London for men and women (Jun 1992 - Jun 2024)
Last updated: August 2024
Next estimated update: October 2024
What does this indicator show?
This indicator shows the proportion of Londoners that are unemployed, split by sex.
What does it tell us?
Women are slightly more likely to be unemployed than men in London. 5.8% of women in London were unemployed in June 2024, compared to 4.7% of men.
For both sexes, this is slightly higher than two years ago. The unemployment rate is also higher than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic - but lower than it was during its pandemic peak of 2021, and much lower than the peak during the financial crisis of around 10% (in 2011).
The unemployment gap
Over the past three decades, the gender split has become more even overall. In 1993 the unemployment rate was more than 50% higher amongst men compared to women, but by the late 2000s the numbers were broadly similar for both genders. However, the gap has grown again in recent years. In June 2024, the unemployment rate for women is now around 25% higher for women compared to men.
What does unemployment mean?
The unemployment rate is the percentage of people that are able or willing to work but don’t currently have a job. It only includes those who are looking for a job or are able to start work soon, and doesn’t count those who are of working age and are ‘economically inactive’. A person is ‘economically inactive’ when they aren’t looking for a job or able to start work, for example because they are retired, studying, have caring responsibilities, or are too sick to work.
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