BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment persisted at 6.4% in August 2026, with no change from July, according to Eurostat. The rate was 6.3% in August 2025. Meanwhile, across the European Union, the unemployment rate stayed at 6.1% for a second consecutive month, compared to 6.0% a year earlier. The data indicates stable headline figures despite an increase in the number of unemployed individuals across both regions.
Eurostat reported that in August, 11.357 million people were jobless within the euro area. The broader EU recorded a total of 13.600 million unemployed individuals for the same month. Compared to July, unemployment figures rose by 26,000 in the euro zone and by 12,000 across the EU. Since August 2025, the total number of unemployed persons has grown by 267,000 in the euro area and by 348,000 within the 27-member European Union.
Unemployment rates varied significantly among member states in August. Spain’s rate reached 10.0%, Finland registered 10.3%, and Sweden was at 8.7%. France’s rate was 8.2%, Italy’s 6.2%, and Germany’s 4.0%. At the lower end, Czechia reported a rate of 3.2%. Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each posted 3.4%, while Bulgaria’s unemployment rate stood at 3.5%.
Youth unemployment shifts in contrasting directions
For young people under 25, the euro area’s youth unemployment rate declined slightly from 15.1% in July to 15.0% in August. Conversely, the EU-wide youth unemployment rate increased from 15.3% to 15.4%. The number of unemployed youths in the euro zone was 2.391 million, whereas the total for the EU reached 2.973 million.
The count of unemployed young individuals in the euro area decreased by 9,000 compared to July, while across the EU, the total increased by 13,000 during the same period. Year-over-year, youth unemployment in the euro area rose by 38,000, and the EU saw an increase of 19,000. Despite these fluctuations, youth unemployment rates remain above the general unemployment rates within both regions.
Gender gap persists in unemployment rates
The August statistics also highlight ongoing disparities between women and men. Within the euro area, the unemployment rate for women was 6.7%, compared to 6.2% for men, with both figures unchanged from July. Across the EU, unemployment affected 6.4% of women and 5.9% of men, with no change from the previous month.
These unemployment figures are based on harmonized definitions endorsed by the International Labour Organization, which include individuals aged 15 to 74 who are without work, available to start, and have actively searched for employment in the past four weeks. The unemployment rate reflects these individuals as a proportion of the labor force. The upcoming euro-area and EU unemployment update is scheduled for October 30, 2026.