BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment remained steady at 6.4% in August 2026, with no change from July, according to data from Eurostat. The rate was 6.3% in August 2025. Within the European Union, the unemployment rate held at 6.1% for a second consecutive month, compared to 6.0% a year earlier. Despite the stable headline figures, the overall number of unemployed individuals grew across both regions.
Eurostat estimated that 11.357 million people were jobless in the euro area during August. The broader EU recorded a total of 13.600 million unemployed individuals in the same month. Compared to July, unemployment rose by 26,000 in the eurozone and by 12,000 across the EU. Year-over-year, the number of unemployed increased by 267,000 in the euro area and by 348,000 across the 27-member European Union.
Unemployment rates at the national level continued to show significant variation in August across member states. Spain’s rate was 10.0%, Finland’s stood at 10.3%, and Sweden’s was 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 recorded 3.4%, while Bulgaria’s unemployment rate was 3.5%.
Youth unemployment trends diverge
The monthly data revealed mixed trends for youth unemployment in the euro area and the wider EU. The rate for those under 25 in the eurozone declined slightly from 15.1% in July to 15.0%. Meanwhile, youth unemployment within the EU increased marginally from 15.3% to 15.4%. Unemployed young people numbered approximately 2.391 million in the euro area, with the EU total reaching 2.973 million.
From July to August, the number of unemployed youth in the euro area decreased by 9,000, whereas across the EU, it rose by 13,000. Compared to August 2025, youth unemployment has grown by 38,000 in the eurozone and by 19,000 in the EU overall. Rates for young people continue to surpass the general unemployment rates in both regions.
Gender disparities persist in unemployment rates
Data for August also highlighted ongoing differences between female and male unemployment figures. The euro area registered a rate of 6.7% for women, compared to 6.2% for men, with both figures remaining unchanged from July. Across the EU, the unemployment rate for women was 6.4%, while for men it was 5.9%, with no variation from the previous month.
These figures are based on harmonized definitions endorsed by the International Labour Organization. The measurement includes individuals aged 15 to 74 who are without a job, available to start work, and have actively sought 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.