Introduction
Unemployment rates represent the share of unemployed persons in the total labour force. These data provide insights into labour market dynamics across age groups and demographic segments, highlighting both challenges and opportunities within the EU labour market.
The data are seasonally and calendar adjusted to ensure comparability across countries. All values are updated monthly, typically released around six weeks after the reference period once national statistical offices publish their final results.
Overall Unemployment Rate
In September 2025, the European Union's overall unemployment rate amounted to 6% (0 y/y), representing approximately 13,246,000 unemployed persons. This development suggests that post-pandemic labour markets have largely normalised, with limited cyclical fluctuations.
Unemployment by Age
In September 2025, youth unemployment (ages 15-24) in the European Union stood at 14.8% (0 y/y), representing approximately 2,960,000 unemployed youth, showing relatively stable conditions for young jobseekers compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for mature workers (ages 25 and over) amounted to 5.1% (0 y/y) in September 2025, representing approximately 10,391,000 unemployed mature workers, reflecting broadly stable labour market conditions for the mature working-age population. Youth rates remain higher than mature workers due to the transition from education to employment, while established skills and work experience support lower unemployment among older workers.
Unemployment by Gender
In September 2025, the unemployment rate for males in the European Union amounted to 5.8% (0 y/y), representing approximately 6,865,000 unemployed males, indicating broadly stable labour market outcomes for male workers. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for females stood at 6.1% (0 y/y) in September 2025, representing approximately 6,486,000 unemployed females, showing relatively steady conditions for female jobseekers.
Frequently Asked Questions
OECD publishes unemployment statistics monthly, based on harmonised Labour Force Surveys conducted in all EU member states. The data are seasonally and calendar adjusted to ensure comparability across countries and are usually released about six weeks after the reference month.
The Labour Force Survey is a household survey conducted across all EU member states according to harmonised methodology. It provides detailed information on employment, unemployment, and labour force participation, covering all persons aged 15 and over. The LFS follows International Labour Organization (ILO) definitions, ensuring comparability across countries. OECD aggregates these national data into monthly series, applying seasonal and calendar adjustments for cross-country analysis.
Unemployment is measured according to ILO standards, counting persons who are: (1) without work during the reference week, (2) currently available for work, and (3) actively seeking employment. The unemployment rate expresses the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force (employed plus unemployed). This differs from registered unemployment, which counts only those registered with employment services.
Several factors shape unemployment dynamics across Europe:
- Economic cycles: Recessions typically increase unemployment, while expansions create jobs
- Structural factors: Skills mismatches, labour market rigidities, and regional disparities
- Demographic trends: Ageing populations, migration flows, and changes in labour force participation
- Policy measures: Active labour market policies, education and training systems, and employment protection legislation
- Sectoral shifts: Changes in industrial composition, technological disruption, and automation
- Global economic conditions: Trade patterns, foreign investment, and international competitiveness
As of the latest available data, unemployment rates across European countries vary significantly:
- Austria: 5.5%
- Belgium: 5.9%
- Bulgaria: 3.5%
- Croatia: 4.7%
- Czechia: 3%
- Denmark: 6.1%
- Estonia: 7.4%
- Finland: 9.6%
- France: 7.6%
- Germany: 3.9%
- Greece: 8.2%
- Hungary: 4.5%
- Ireland: 4.7%
- Italy: 6.1%
- Latvia: 6.4%
- Lithuania: 7%
- Luxembourg: 6.9%
- Netherlands: 4%
- Poland: 3.2%
- Portugal: 6%
- Romania: 5.9%
- Slovakia: 5.5%
- Slovenia: 3.1%
- Spain: 10.5%
- Sweden: 8.7%
Unemployment in Countries
Explore unemployment data in specific countries — choose a country to see detailed analysis.
Methodology and Data Sources
All charts and indicators update automatically based on OECD's monthly unemployment statistics, typically released monthly. The data are derived from Labour Force Surveys conducted across all EU member states, seasonally and calendar adjusted for comparability. Unemployment rates are calculated as the percentage of unemployed persons (those without a job, available for work, and actively seeking employment) relative to the labour force.