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Statistics · Region
Wales: unemployment rate
1995 – 2023 · 29 data points
6 of 13 · Regions of United Kingdom
Updated 21 Oct 2026
Source: OECD Regional Database, 1995 – 2023
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Latest value · 2023
3.7%
+0.7 pp
since 2022
Regions of United Kingdom · 2023
6 of 13
Place 1 is the highest value.
since 2013
−4.2 pp
vs United Kingdom
−0.2 pp
United Kingdom: 3.9% · 2023
Unemployment rate, 1995 – 2023 percent · Wales · United Kingdom · World
−4.2 pp since 2013
0%
2.5%
5%
7.5%
10%
1995
2005
2010
2015
2025
Wales
United Kingdom
World
Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1995 – 2023
Compared with Unemployment rate · percent
Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators
The series at a glance Wales · 1995 – 2023
Latest value
3.7% · 2023
First value
8.6% · 1995
Highest
8.7% · 2010
Lowest
3.0% · 2022
Data points
29
By year
All years · 1995 – 2023
| Year | Wales | Change | United Kingdom | World |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3.7% | +0.7 pp | 3.9% | 4.8% |
| 2022 | 3.0% | −1.2 pp | 3.7% | 5.2% |
| 2021 | 4.2% | +0.5 pp | 4.5% | 6.0% |
| 2020 | 3.7% | −0.4 pp | 4.6% | 6.6% |
| 2019 | 4.1% | −0.4 pp | 3.8% | 5.6% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | −0.2 pp | 4.1% | 5.8% |
| 2017 | 4.7% | +0.1 pp | 4.4% | 5.9% |
| 2016 | 4.6% | −1.3 pp | 4.9% | 6.0% |
| 2015 | 5.9% | −0.9 pp | 5.4% | 6.0% |
| 2014 | 6.8% | −1.1 pp | 6.2% | 6.0% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | −0.4 pp | 7.6% | 6.1% |
| 2012break in series | 8.3% | −0.4 pp | 8.0% | 6.2% |
| 2011 | 8.7% | ±0.0 pp | 8.1% | 6.1% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | +0.6 pp | 7.9% | 6.3% |
| 2009 | 8.1% | +2.1 pp | 7.6% | 6.4% |
| 2008 | 6.0% | +0.7 pp | 5.7% | 5.8% |
| 2007 | 5.3% | ±0.0 pp | 5.3% | 5.8% |
| 2006 | 5.3% | +0.7 pp | 5.4% | 6.0% |
| 2005 | 4.6% | +0.1 pp | 4.8% | 6.2% |
| 2004 | 4.5% | −0.2 pp | 4.8% | 6.3% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | −0.7 pp | 5.0% | 6.5% |
| 2002 | 5.4% | −0.5 pp | 5.2% | 6.4% |
| 2001 | 5.9% | −0.4 pp | 5.1% | 6.2% |
| 2000 | 6.3% | −1.0 pp | 5.5% | 6.1% |
| 1999 | 7.3% | +0.1 pp | 6.0% | 6.3% |
| 1998 | 7.2% | −0.4 pp | 6.3% | 6.2% |
| 1997 | 7.6% | −0.8 pp | 7.0% | 6.0% |
| 1996 | 8.4% | −0.2 pp | 8.1% | 6.0% |
| 1995 | 8.6% | 8.6% | 5.9% |
Sources: OECD Regional Database · World Bank — World Development Indicators, 1995 – 2023
Ranking · Regions of United Kingdom
2023 · Place 1 is the highest value.
| # | Territory | Unemployment rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Outer London - West and North West | 6.2% | |
| 2 | Greater London | 5.0% | |
| 3 | West Midlands | 4.4% | |
| 4 | North East England | 3.9% | |
| 5 | North West England | 3.8% | |
| 6 | Wales | 3.7% | |
| 7 | East Midlands | 3.7% | |
| 8 | East of England | 3.6% | |
| 9 | Scotland | 3.5% | |
| 10 | Yorkshire and The Humber | 3.4% | |
| 11 | South East England | 2.9% | |
| 12 | South West England | 2.5% | |
| 13 | Northern Ireland | 2.5% |
Source: OECD Regional Database, 2023
What it means
The share of people who want a job and are looking for one but do not have one.
How it is calculated
Unemployed people divided by the labour force (employed plus unemployed), following the international definition; annual average.
Economy & jobs
Wales in numbers
GDP per person
£29,316
2023
GDP per person (PPP)
US$43,924
2023
Gross domestic product
US$4T
2025 · United Kingdom
Economic growth
1.4%
2025 · United Kingdom
Inflation
3.9%
2025 · United Kingdom
Youth unemployment
14.6%
2025 · United Kingdom
Employment rate
72.7%
2024
Labour force participation
61.4%
2025 · United Kingdom
Household income per person
US$29,896
2023
Income inequality (Gini)
32.4
2021 · United Kingdom