Official data released for April shows the United Kingdom's unemployment rate at 4.9%, slightly better than the 5% forecast and down from the previous 5% level. The Average Earnings Index rose 4.4% year‑on‑year, matching the prior month and exceeding the 4% estimate. Employment grew by 100,000 jobs, well above the 75,000 forecast but below the 147,000 gain recorded in March. The number of people claiming unemployment benefits fell, with the claimant count change reported at 0, compared with a forecast of 25.8 thousand and a previous 26.5 thousand.