BRUSSELS / RankWire.AI / – Euro area unemployment persisted at 6.4% in August 2026, remaining unchanged from July, according to Eurostat. The rate was 6.3% in August 2025. Meanwhile, the European Union maintained a 6.1% unemployment rate for a second consecutive month, compared to 6.0% a year earlier. Despite stable headline figures, the total number of unemployed individuals rose in both regions.
Eurostat estimates indicated that 11.357 million people were unemployed across the euro area in August. The broader EU recorded a total of 13.600 million unemployed individuals during the same month. Compared to July, unemployment increased by 26,000 in the euro area and by 12,000 across the EU. From August 2025, the number of unemployed rose by 267,000 in the euro area and by 348,000 within the 27-member European Union.
In August, unemployment rates varied significantly among member states. Spain’s rate was 10.0%, Finland registered 10.3%, and Sweden 8.7%. France’s unemployment stood at 8.2%, Italy at 6.2%, and Germany at 4.0%. At the lower end, Czechia reported 3.2%. Malta, Poland, and Slovenia each recorded 3.4%, while Bulgaria’s rate was 3.5%.
Youth Unemployment Trends Diverge in August
Youth unemployment showed mixed shifts between the euro area and the wider EU in August. The euro-area rate for individuals under 25 decreased slightly to 15.0% from 15.1% in July, whereas the EU’s youth unemployment rate edged up to 15.4% from 15.3%. In total, approximately 2.391 million young people were unemployed in the euro area, with the EU total reaching 2.973 million.
The number of unemployed youth in the euro zone declined by 9,000 compared to July. Conversely, across the EU, the total increased by 13,000 during the same period. When compared with August 2025, youth unemployment in the euro area grew by 38,000, while the EU recorded a rise of 19,000. Throughout both regions, youth unemployment rates remained above the overall unemployment rates.
Higher Unemployment Rates Continue for Women
The August data also revealed a persistent gap between female and male unemployment rates. In the euro area, the rate for women was 6.7%, compared to 6.2% for men, with no change from July. Across the EU, unemployment was 6.4% for women and 5.9% for men, remaining stable from the previous month.
These 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 sought employment within the past four weeks. The unemployment rate reflects these individuals as a proportion of the labor force. The next update for euro-area and EU unemployment figures is scheduled for October 30, 2026.