BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment persisted at 6.4% in August 2026, with no change from July, according to Eurostat. The same period in August 2025 saw a rate of 6.3%. Within the European Union, the unemployment rate held steady at 6.1% for the second consecutive month, slightly up from 6.0% a year earlier. The data indicated stable headline figures despite an overall rise in jobless numbers across both regions.
Eurostat estimated that 11.357 million individuals were unemployed within the euro area in August. The broader EU recorded a total of 13.600 million unemployed persons during the same month. Compared to July, unemployment increased by 26,000 in the eurozone and by 12,000 across the EU. Year-over-year, the number has risen by 267,000 in the euro area and by 348,000 across all 27 EU member states.
Unemployment rates at the national level continued to show significant variation across the bloc in August. Spain registered 10.0%, Finland 10.3%, and Sweden 8.7%. France’s rate was 8.2%, Italy 6.2%, and Germany 4.0%. On the lower end, Czechia reported 3.2%. Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each posted 3.4%, while Bulgaria’s unemployment rate stood at 3.5%.
Youth unemployment trends diverge
The youth unemployment rate for those under 25 displayed mixed results between the euro area and the wider EU. In the eurozone, the rate decreased slightly from 15.1% in July to 15.0%. Meanwhile, the EU-wide youth unemployment rate edged up from 15.3% to 15.4%. The total number of unemployed young people was approximately 2.391 million in the euro area, with the EU tally reaching 2.973 million.
From July to August, youth unemployment among young people in the euro area fell by 9,000. In contrast, across the EU, the total grew by 13,000 during that period. Comparing to August 2025, youth unemployment increased by 38,000 in the euro area, and by 19,000 in the EU. The youth unemployment rates remain higher than the general unemployment rates across both regions.
Higher unemployment rates persist among women
Euro area unemployment data also highlight ongoing disparities between genders. The rate for women in August was 6.7%, compared to 6.2% for men, with both figures remaining unchanged from July. Across the EU, unemployment stood at 6.4% for women and 5.9% for men, with no change from the previous month.
Unemployment statistics are based on harmonized definitions recommended by the International Labour Organization. The figures cover individuals aged 15 to 74 who are without a job, available to work, and actively seeking employment in the past four weeks. The unemployment rate reflects these persons as a proportion of the labor force. The next update for euro-area and EU unemployment figures is scheduled for October 30, 2026.