BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment persisted at 6.4% in August 2026, with no change from July, according to Eurostat. The rate was slightly lower at 6.3% in August 2025. Meanwhile, across the European Union, unemployment remained at 6.1% for a consecutive month, compared to 6.0% a year earlier. The data indicates stable headline rates despite an overall increase in the number of unemployed individuals in both regions.
Eurostat estimates show that 11.357 million people were unemployed in the eurozone in August. The broader EU recorded a total of 13.600 million unemployed individuals during the same month. Compared to July, unemployment increased by 26,000 in the euro area and by 12,000 across the EU. Year-over-year, from August 2025, the unemployment count grew by 267,000 in the eurozone and by 348,000 across the 27-member European Union.
Unemployment rates among member countries continued to show significant variation in August. Spain registered a rate of 10.0%, while Finland stood at 10.3%, and Sweden at 8.7%. France’s unemployment rate was 8.2%, Italy at 6.2%, and Germany at 4.0%. At the lower end of the spectrum, Czechia’s rate was 3.2%. Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each reported 3.4%, with Bulgaria’s rate at 3.5%.
Youth unemployment trends diverge in the euro area and EU
Youth unemployment figures exhibited contrasting movements between the eurozone and the wider EU. The euro-area rate for individuals under 25 decreased slightly to 15.0% from 15.1% in July. Conversely, the EU youth unemployment rate increased marginally to 15.4% from 15.3%. In total, approximately 2.391 million young people in the eurozone were unemployed, while the EU total reached 2.973 million.
The number of unemployed youth in the euro area decreased by 9,000 from July. Meanwhile, the EU saw an increase of 13,000 during the same period. Comparing to August 2025, youth unemployment in the eurozone rose by 38,000, with the EU experiencing a rise of 19,000. Throughout both regions, youth unemployment rates continued to remain higher than overall unemployment rates.
Higher unemployment persists among women
The August data also revealed ongoing disparities between female and male unemployment rates. In the eurozone, women faced a rate of 6.7%, compared to 6.2% for men, with no change from July. Across the EU, the unemployment rate was 6.4% for women and 5.9% for men, both unchanged from the previous month.
These figures are based on harmonized definitions recommended by the International Labour Organization, covering individuals aged 15 to 74 who are without employment and available to work. To be counted, they must have actively searched for a job within the past four weeks. The unemployment rate reflects these individuals as a percentage of the labor force. The next monthly update for euro-area and EU unemployment is scheduled for October 30, 2026.
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