PAYstats Pay and Labour Market Statistics, May 2026

Latest pay and labour market statistics May 2026:

• The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.0% in the 12 months to April 2026, down from 3.4% in the 12 months to March.
• The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 2.8% in the 12 months to April 2026, down from 3.3% in the 12 months to March.
• The UK employment rate (based on the LFS) for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 75.0% in January to March 2026.
• The UK unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and over was estimated at 5.0% in January to March 2026.
• The estimated number of vacancies in the UK has decreased in the latest quarter, following broadly flat estimates between March to May 2025 and December 2025 to February 2026.
• Annual growth in employees' average regular earnings excluding bonuses in Great Britain was 3.3% in the 12 months to March 2026, and annual growth in total earnings including bonuses was 3.8%.