BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment remained steady at 6.4% in August 2026, with no change from July, according to data released by Eurostat. In August 2025, the rate was slightly lower at 6.3%. The European Union also saw its unemployment rate hold at 6.1% for the second consecutive month, compared to 6.0% a year earlier. Despite the stable headline figures, the total number of unemployed individuals increased across both regions.
Eurostat estimated that 11.357 million people were unemployed in the euro area during August. The broader EU reported a total of 13.600 million unemployed individuals for the same month. Compared to July, unemployment grew by 26,000 in the euro zone and by 12,000 across the EU. Since August 2025, the number of unemployed persons has risen by 267,000 in the euro area and by 348,000 within the 27-member European Union.
Unemployment rates at the national level continued to vary significantly across the bloc. Spain recorded a rate of 10.0%, Finland 10.3%, and Sweden 8.7%. France’s rate was 8.2%, Italy’s 6.2%, and Germany’s 4.0%. The lowest was reported by Czechia at 3.2%. Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each registered a rate of 3.4%, while Bulgaria’s unemployment rate stood at 3.5%.
Youth unemployment trends diverge
In August, youth unemployment presented mixed signals between the euro area and the wider EU. The euro area’s rate for those under 25 declined slightly to 15.0% from 15.1% in July. Conversely, the EU’s youth unemployment rate increased to 15.4% from 15.3%. The total number of unemployed young people in the euro zone reached 2.391 million, while the EU’s figure was 2.973 million.
Compared to July, the number of unemployed young individuals in the euro area decreased by 9,000. However, across the EU, the total rose by 13,000 in the same period. Year-over-year, youth unemployment in the euro zone grew by 38,000, and in the EU, the increase was 19,000. Rates for youth unemployment remain higher than those for the overall labor force across both regions.
Gender disparities persist in unemployment figures
Data for August also confirmed the ongoing gap between female and male unemployment rates. In the euro area, the rate for women was 6.7%, whereas for men it was 6.2%. Both figures remained steady from July. Across the EU, unemployment stood at 6.4% for women and 5.9% for men, with no change from the previous month.
The statistics are based on harmonized definitions recommended by the International Labour Organization. They cover individuals aged 15 to 74 who are without work, available to start employment, and actively seeking work in the last four weeks. The unemployment rate reflects these individuals as a proportion of the labor force. The upcoming euro-area and EU unemployment report is scheduled for October 30, 2026.