The UK economy has faced successive lockdowns that have hit businesses and employees hard Matthew Horwoord/Getty Images UK unemployment rate rises to 5%, the highest level since early 2016. Britain's furlough scheme has kept joblessness below other countries. The UK is still battling coronavirus but has rolled out vaccines quickly. Sign up here for our daily newsletter, 10 Things Before the Opening Bell. The UK unemployment rate hit its highest level in 5 years in the three months to November, official figures showed on Tuesday, although the government's wage-subsidy scheme kept joblessness lower than in other countries.Unemployment rose to 5% over the period, the Office for National Statistics said, up from 3.8% a year earlier and 4.9% in the three months to October.