UK unemployment unexpectedly rises to 5% as firms squeezed by Iran war
📰 The Guardian · 📅 May 19, 2026, 06:42 AM · 🌐 theguardian.com
Pay growth eases to 3.4% as businesses face pressure from soaring energy costsBusiness live – latest updatesUnemployment in the UK has unexpectedly risen to 5% while wage growth has slowed, according to official figures, in the first snapshot of how companies are reacting to the impact of the Iran w