UK labor-market data showed a mixed but resilient picture. Employment rose by 83,000 to 34.469 million in the three months to June 2026, while unemployment held at 4.9%, above the 4.8% forecast, and the number of payrolled employees fell by 13,000 to 30.3 million in July. A fresh reading of the claimant count added a firmer short-term signal, dropping by 11,000 in July against expectations for an 11,200 increase. Median monthly pay growth eased to 4.2% to reach £2,642. The surprise fall in benefit claims suggests layoffs remain contained despite high interest rates and cost-of-living pressure, though analysts caution that monthly claimant-count figures can be volatile and subject to revision as the Bank of England weighs how long to keep policy restrictive.