BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment stayed at 6.4% in August 2026, remaining unchanged from July, according to Eurostat. This rate was 6.3% in August 2025. Across the European Union, unemployment stayed at 6.1% for a second consecutive month. In comparison, the figure was 6.0% a year earlier. The data indicates stable headline unemployment rates despite an increase in the number of unemployed individuals across both regions.
Eurostat reports that 11.357 million people were jobless in the euro area during August. Meanwhile, the broader EU recorded 13.600 million unemployed persons for the same month. Unemployment grew by 26,000 in the eurozone and by 12,000 across the EU compared to July. From August 2025, the total number of unemployed increased by 267,000 in the euro area and by 348,000 within the 27-member EU.
Unemployment rates among individual nations continued to vary significantly in August. Spain’s rate was 10.0%, while Finland’s was 10.3%, and Sweden’s 8.7%. France recorded an unemployment rate of 8.2%, Italy 6.2%, and Germany 4.0%. At the lower end of the spectrum, Czechia reported a rate of 3.2%. Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each had an unemployment rate of 3.4%, and Bulgaria’s stood at 3.5%.
Youth unemployment exhibits differing trends in August
The youth unemployment rate showed mixed patterns between the euro area and the wider EU in August. The eurozone rate for individuals under 25 declined slightly to 15.0% from 15.1% in July. Conversely, the EU youth unemployment rate rose to 15.4% from 15.3%. Approximately 2.391 million young people in the euro area were unemployed. The total for the EU was 2.973 million.
The number of unemployed young people in the eurozone fell by 9,000 from July. During the same period, the EU total increased by 13,000. Compared to August 2025, youth unemployment grew by 38,000 in the euro area. The EU’s youth unemployment also rose by 19,000 annually. Overall, youth unemployment rates stay above the general unemployment rates in both regions.
Gender gap persists with women experiencing higher unemployment rates
Data from August continue to show a gap between unemployment rates for women and men. In the euro area, the rate for women was 6.7%, while for men it was 6.2%. Both figures remained steady from July. Within the EU, unemployment was 6.4% for women and 5.9% for men, with no change from the previous month.
The unemployment figures adhere to harmonized definitions advised by the International Labour Organization. This measure considers people aged 15 to 74 who are jobless and ready to work. They must have actively searched for employment in the past four weeks. The unemployment rate reflects these individuals as a proportion of the labor force. The next monthly update for euro-area and EU unemployment is scheduled for October 30, 2026.
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