BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment held steady at 6.4% in August 2026, the same as in July. According to Eurostat, the rate was 6.3% in August 2025. Unemployment across the European Union remained at 6.1% for a second consecutive month. While the EU rate was 6.0% one year prior, recent data indicate a slight uptick in the number of unemployed individuals.
In August, the euro area had an estimated 11.357 million unemployed persons. This figure grew by 26,000 from July and by 267,000 from August 2025. Within the European Union, roughly 13.600 million people were jobless during the same month. The EU total increased by 12,000 compared to July and by 348,000 relative to August 2025.
Unemployment rates showed significant variation among EU member states in August. Finland’s rate was 10.3%, Spain reported 10.0%, and Sweden’s stood at 8.7%. France had an unemployment rate of 8.2%, with Italy at 6.2% and Germany at 4.0%. Czechia recorded 3.2%, while Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each registered 3.4%. Bulgaria followed with a rate of 3.5%.
Youth unemployment displays mixed trends for the month
The rate of youth unemployment varied within the euro area and broader EU. The euro-area rate for those under 25 decreased slightly to 15.0% from 15.1% in July. Meanwhile, the EU youth unemployment rate rose to 15.4% from 15.3% in the same period. The euro area had about 2.391 million unemployed young individuals, and the EU total reached 2.973 million.
The number of unemployed youth in the euro area fell by 9,000 from July. Conversely, the EU saw an increase of 13,000 in the same demographic during the month. Compared to August 2025, youth unemployment went up by 38,000 in the euro area, with the EU recording an annual rise of 19,000. Youth unemployment continues to be considerably higher than the general unemployment rate in both regions.
Unemployment rates remain higher among women
Throughout August, women continued to experience higher unemployment rates than men. In the euro area, the rate for women was 6.7%, compared with 6.2% for men, with both figures unchanged from July. In the EU, the female unemployment rate remained at 6.4%, while the male rate was steady at 5.9%. No monthly change was observed in either gender’s rate from the previous month.
Eurostat’s measurement of unemployment is based on standardized definitions aligned with International Labour Organization standards. It considers individuals aged 15 to 74 who are jobless, available for work, and have actively searched for employment within the past four weeks. The unemployment rate indicates the proportion of this group within the labor force. The upcoming monthly report on euro-area and EU unemployment statistics is set for release on October 30, 2026.