BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment remained steady at 6.4% in August 2026, with no change from July, according to Eurostat. The rate was 6.3% in August 2025. Across the European Union, the unemployment rate stayed at 6.1% for a second consecutive month. This compares with 6.0% a year earlier. Despite stable overall rates, the number of unemployed individuals increased in both regions.
Eurostat reported that 11.357 million people were jobless in the euro area in August. The wider EU had 13.600 million unemployed during the same month. Unemployment rose by 26,000 in the eurozone and by 12,000 across the EU since July. From August 2025, unemployment grew by 267,000 in the euro area and by 348,000 across the entire 27-member EU.
Unemployment rates varied significantly among member states in August. Spain’s rate was 10.0%, Finland’s 10.3%, and Sweden’s 8.7%. France had 8.2%, Italy 6.2%, and Germany 4.0%. Czechia’s rate was the lowest at 3.2%. Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each reported 3.4%, while Bulgaria’s rate stood at 3.5%.
Youth unemployment shows mixed trends
Youth unemployment displayed different patterns in August. The euro-area rate for those under 25 decreased to 15.0% from 15.1% in July. Meanwhile, the EU youth unemployment rate increased to 15.4% from 15.3%. The euro area had 2.391 million unemployed young people. The EU’s total was 2.973 million.
In the eurozone, youth unemployment dropped by 9,000 from July. However, across the EU, the number rose by 13,000. Compared to August 2025, youth unemployment grew by 38,000 in the euro area. The EU saw an increase of 19,000 over the year. Youth unemployment rates remained higher than overall rates in both the eurozone and EU.
Women continue to face higher unemployment levels
August’s data also highlighted persistent gaps between female and male unemployment rates. In the euro area, women’s rate was 6.7%, while men’s was 6.2%. Both figures held steady from July. Within the EU, women faced a 6.4% rate, with men at 5.9%. These rates also stayed unchanged from the previous month.
Unemployment figures are based on harmonized definitions recommended by the International Labour Organization. They include people aged 15 to 74 who are jobless and available to work. To be counted, individuals must have actively searched for employment in the past four weeks. The unemployment rate reflects these people as a portion of the labor force. The next update for euro-area and EU unemployment statistics is scheduled for October 30, 2026.