BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment remained steady at 6.4% in August 2026, with no change from July, according to Eurostat. In August 2025, the rate was 6.3%. Across the European Union, the unemployment rate also stayed at 6.1% for a 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, according to the latest data.
Eurostat reported that in August, approximately 11.357 million people were without work in the euro area. The broader EU reported 13.600 million unemployed individuals for the same period. Compared to July, unemployment in the eurozone rose by 26,000, while the EU saw an increase of 12,000. Year-over-year, the number of unemployed persons grew by 267,000 in the euro area and by 348,000 across the 27-member European Union.
Unemployment rates varied significantly among member states in August. Spain registered a rate of 10.0%, Finland was at 10.3%, and Sweden stood at 8.7%. France’s rate was 8.2%, Italy’s at 6.2%, and Germany’s at 4.0%. At the lower end, Czechia reported 3.2%. Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each recorded 3.4%, while Bulgaria’s unemployment rate was 3.5%.
Youth unemployment trends diverge
Youth unemployment figures showed mixed movements between the euro area and the wider EU for August. The unemployment rate for those under 25 in the eurozone declined slightly to 15.0% from 15.1% in July. Meanwhile, the EU youth unemployment rate increased marginally to 15.4% from 15.3%. The number of unemployed young people in the euro area totaled about 2.391 million, with the EU figure reaching 2.973 million.
From July, youth unemployment in the euro area decreased by 9,000, whereas across the EU, the total rose by 13,000 during that period. When comparing to August 2025, youth unemployment rose by 38,000 in the eurozone, and the EU saw an increase of 19,000. Despite these shifts, youth unemployment rates remain higher than overall unemployment rates in both regions.
Higher unemployment persists among women
The latest data also highlight a sustained gap between unemployment rates for women and men. In the euro area, the rate for women was 6.7%, while for men it was 6.2%, with both figures unchanged from July. Across the EU, the unemployment rate was 6.4% for women compared to 5.9% for men, with no change from the previous month.
These figures adhere to harmonized definitions recommended by the International Labour Organization, covering individuals aged 15 to 74 who are jobless, available for work, and have actively sought employment in the past four weeks. The unemployment rate represents these individuals as a percentage of the total labor force. The next update for euro-area and EU unemployment statistics is scheduled for October 30, 2026.