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. Within the European Union, the unemployment rate stayed at 6.1% for a second consecutive month, compared to 6.0% a year earlier. Despite these stable headline figures, the total number of unemployed persons increased across both regions.
Eurostat reported that 11.357 million individuals were jobless in the euro area during August. Meanwhile, the broader EU accounted for 13.600 million unemployed individuals for the same period. Compared to July, unemployment rose by 26,000 in the euro zone and by 12,000 across the EU. Since August 2025, the number of unemployed increased by 267,000 in the euro area and by 348,000 across the 27-member European Union.
Unemployment rates among nations varied significantly in August. Spain’s rate reached 10.0%, Finland’s was 10.3%, and Sweden’s stood at 8.7%. France recorded 8.2%, Italy 6.2%, and Germany 4.0%. At the lower end, Czechia’s rate was 3.2%. Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each posted 3.4%, while Bulgaria’s unemployment rate was 3.5%.
Youth unemployment figures trend differently
Youth unemployment displayed mixed results between the euro area and the wider EU, with the euro-area rate for those under 25 decreasing to 15.0% from 15.1% in July, while the EU youth unemployment rate rose slightly to 15.4% from 15.3%. In total, about 2.391 million young people were unemployed in the euro zone, compared to 2.973 million across the EU.
The youth unemployment count in the euro area declined by 9,000 from July, but across the EU, it increased by 13,000 during the same period. Compared with August 2025, youth unemployment rose by 38,000 in the euro area and by 19,000 in the EU. Rates for young people remained above the overall unemployment rates in both regions.
Higher unemployment persists among women
The August data also highlighted a continuing gap between female and male unemployment rates. In the euro area, women faced a rate of 6.7%, while men’s was 6.2%. Both figures remained steady from July. Across the EU, women experienced a rate of 6.4%, with men at 5.9%, unchanged from the previous month.
These unemployment figures are based on harmonized definitions recommended by the International Labour Organization, covering individuals aged 15 to 74 who are without work, available to start, and have actively looked for employment in the past four weeks. The unemployment rate represents those individuals as a proportion of the labor force. The upcoming euro-area and EU unemployment report is scheduled for October 30, 2026.