The latest macroeconomic data reveals deep contrasts in the condition of world powers. While the United Kingdom grapples with its highest unemployment rate in five years at 5.2%, American industry is posting its strongest growth in nearly a year. Simultaneously, Japan is recording record export momentum, capitalizing on China's economic problems, and South Africa reports a drop in its unemployment rate to its lowest level since 2020. In Poland, consumer sentiment remains mixed.

Employment Crisis in the United Kingdom

The unemployment rate in the UK has risen to 5.2%, and the situation for young people is the worst in a decade, undermining the stability of the local labor market.

American Industry on the Rise

Industrial production in the USA increased by 0.7% in January, marking the third consecutive month of improvement in American factory results.

Japanese Export Offensive

Japan's exports are growing at the fastest pace in three years, effectively displacing competition from China, which is beset by problems, in Asian markets.

Cooling of the Polish Labor Market

Poland recorded a fourth consecutive monthly decline in the number of job offers, indicating a period of economic cooling in the country.

The picture of the global economy at the start of 2026 remains highly diverse, with different world regions reacting differently to macroeconomic challenges. The most serious situation is in the United Kingdom, where the unemployment rate has risen to 5.2%, the worst result since January 2021. Particularly alarming are the data concerning young people aged 16 to 24 – in this group, unemployment has exceeded 16%. The British labor market is feeling the effects of an economic slowdown and changes in regulations that increased employment costs. Experts point out that promises of rapid development after leaving the European Union have not yet been reflected in hard statistical data. Completely different sentiments prevail in the United States, where industrial production rose by 0.7% in January, significantly exceeding analysts' expectations. This is the third consecutive month of growth, suggesting high resilience of the American manufacturing sector to the restrictive monetary policy of the Federal Reserve. Positive signals are also coming from Japan. Thanks to the weakening yen and growing demand for machinery, its exports are growing at the fastest pace in three years. The Japanese economy is effectively filling the market gap created by internal problems in China, allowing it to achieve its highest positive trade balance since 2021. After the 2008 financial crisis, central banks worldwide kept interest rates at record lows for over a decade, which now, coupled with post-pandemic supply shocks, has forced a rapid tightening of monetary policy to fight inflation. In Poland, the labor market situation shows signs of cooling. The number of new job offers fell by 8% year-on-year in January, marking the sharpest drop in two years. Despite this, the Credit Information Bureau predicts increased interest in financing among entrepreneurs from the SME sector, which is expected to be driven by stabilizing inflation and the National Bank of Poland lowering interest rates to 4%. A positive surprise, however, comes from data from South Africa, where the unemployment rate dropped to 31.4%, the lowest in five years, thanks to a revival in construction and social services. „The labor market remains in a cooling phase, and regional mismatch between job offers and workers hampers a rapid improvement in indicators.” — Analyst Element for Grant Thornton South Africa: 31.4, United Kingdom: 5.2, Poland: 5.7 16.1% — is the unemployment rate among young Britons Change in Financial Parameters in Poland: : → ; : →