Unemployment

The unemployment figures provide an indicator of the number of people who are actively currently seeking or waiting to start work. These figures include estimates of the number of people aged 16 and above who are unemployed and the proportion of the economically active people aged 16 and above who are unemployed (the unemployment rate).

The figures are for the 12-month period ending March 2025.

Key figures

  • An estimated 20,500 people were unemployed in Lancashire-12 - an unemployment rate of 3.4%.
  • In Lancashire-14, an estimated 25,700 people were unemployed - an unemployment rate of 3.5%.
  • The unemployment figures for both Lancashire-12 and Lancashire-14 were similar to the both North West (3.7%) and England (4%).
  • Compared to the previous 12-month period ending March 2024, the unemployment rate was similar for both Lancashire-12 (3.2%) and Lancashire-14 (from 3.6%).
  • Unemployment remains relatively similar to recent years, with these figures significantly lower than the 12-month period ending March 2012 which saw the highest unemployment rate in both Lancashire-12 (7.4%) and Lancashire-14 (7.7%).
  • The proportion of unemployed females and males was similar in both Lancashire-12 (50.7% compared to 49.3%) and Lancashire-14 (equal proportions of females and males).

Source: Office for National Statistics, annual population survey (APS) and model-based estimates of unemployment, via the National On-line Manpower Information System (Nomisweb).

The unemployment figures for higher-level geographies (including Lancashire-12, Lancashire-14, the North West, England and the UK) are sourced from the annual population survey (APS) published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Unemployment figures for all other geographies (districts and unitary councils) are sourced from the model-based estimates of unemployment produced by the ONS.

Definition of unemployment

The unemployment figures follow the International Labour Organisation definition of unemployment - a person is considered unemployed if they are not currently classed as being in work, they have been looking for work within the last four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks.

Annual population survey (APS) and model-based estimates

The annual population survey (APS) dataset is produced by combining data taken from the labour force survey (LFS) with a sample boost to improve data quality. More details on the APS methodology information can be found on the ONS website.

Model-based estimates of unemployment are produced by the ONS by using data from the LFS and the claimant count dataset to statistically estimate unemployment. This method is better able to provide estimates for lower-level geographies with less uncertainty.

Data availability

Unemployment data covering 12-month periods and 3-month periods are published quarterly at different geographic levels. National and regional headline unemployment figures that are reported each month in the media differ from the 12-month figures. The 12-month figures also lag the quarterly figures by two to five months.

The labour force survey (LFS) publishes quarterly unemployment data at the regional and national level only. The annual population survey (APS) and model-based employment estimates combines the previous four quarters of unemployment data from the LFS to produce the 12-month dataset at the local authority district and unitary council level and above (APS only).

Limitations

Despite the large sample size of the annual population survey (APS) figures, there are gaps in district-level data due to estimates and confidence intervals being either suppressed or unreliable due to small sample sizes. Figures for higher level geographies are more reliable and have lower levels of uncertainty.

Model-based estimates of unemployment are better able to provide unemployment figures for smaller geographies, however, these estimates may not be free of bias. Claimant count figures can be influenced by changes to the eligibility of out of work benefits. This can impact the model-based estimates of unemployment.

Page updated 18 July 2025

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