Britain entered a tough new lockdown in January Nathan Stirk/Getty Images The UK unemployment rate unexpectedly fell to 4.9% in the 3 months to the end of February. But the number of employees on payrolls dropped by 56,000, data showed. The UK is gradually reopening the economy, boosted by a rapid vaccine rollout. Sign up here for our daily newsletter, 10 Things Before the Opening Bell. The UK unemployment rate fell unexpectedly in the three months to the end of February, data showed on Tuesday, ahead of the country's latest loosening of coronavirus restrictions.But the number of employees on payrolls fell by 56,000 in March compared to February, painting a mixed picture about the UK jobs market.Headline unemployment slipped to 4.9% from December to February from 5% in the previous quarter, the Office for National Statistics said.It beat economists' expectations of a rise to 5.1%, but analysts said the figure was flattered by a rise in people becoming economically inactive, meaning they had stopped looking for work.Yet there were some signs of progress in hiring.