Overview
In April 2026, the euro area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.3%, stable compared with March 2026 as well as with April 2025. The EU unemployment rate was 6.0% in April 2026, also stable compared with March 2026 and with April 2025. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
Eurostat estimates that 13.238 million persons in the EU, of whom 11.075 million in the euro area, were unemployed in April 2026.
-
Compared with March 2026, unemployment decreased by 137 thousand in the EU and by 84 thousand in the euro area.
-
Compared with April 2025, unemployment increased by 82 thousand in the EU and by 45 thousand in the euro area.
Youth unemployment
In April 2026, 2.913 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU, of whom 2.337 million were in the euro area. In April 2026, the youth unemployment rate was 15.1% in the EU, down from 15.6% in the previous month, and 14.7% in the euro area, also down from 15.1% in March 2026.
-
Compared with March 2026, youth unemployment decreased by 91 thousand in the EU and by 50 thousand in the euro area.
-
Compared with April 2025, youth unemployment increased by 22 thousand in the EU and by 13 thousand in the euro area.
Unemployment by sex
In April 2026, the unemployment rate for women was 6.2% in the EU, down from 6.3% in March 2026, and the unemployment rate for men was 5.8%, stable compared with the previous month. In the euro area, the unemployment rate for women was 6.5%, down from 6.6% in March 2026, and the unemployment rate for men was 6.0% in April 2026, also down from 6.1% in March 2026.
Additional labour market indicators
The estimates in this News Release are based on the globally used International Labour Organisation (ILO) standard definition of unemployment, which counts as unemployed people without a job who have been actively seeking work in the last four weeks and are available to start work within the next two weeks.
To capture in full the labour market situation, the data on unemployment have been complemented by additional indicators, e.g. underemployed part-time workers, persons seeking work but not immediately available and persons available to work but not seeking, released together with EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) data for the fourth quarter of 2025.
EU-LFS data for the first quarter of 2026 will be released on 12 June 2026.
Tables
|
Seasonally adjusted unemployment, totals |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rates (%) |
Number of persons (in thousands) |
|||||||||
|
Apr-25 |
Jan-26 |
Feb-26 |
Mar-26 |
Apr-26 |
Apr-25 |
Jan-26 |
Feb-26 |
Mar-26 |
Apr-26 |
|
|
6.3 |
6.3 |
6.4 |
6.3 |
6.3 |
11 030 |
11 055 |
11 221 |
11 159 |
11 075 |
|
|
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
13 156 |
13 203 |
13 384 |
13 375 |
13 238 |
|
|
6.1 |
6.3 |
6.3 |
6.2 |
6.2 |
334 |
348 |
345 |
343 |
343 |
|
|
3.4 |
3.0 |
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
103 |
90 |
89 |
87 |
86 |
|
|
2.8 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
146 |
172 |
169 |
175 |
168 |
|
|
6.8 |
7.1 |
7.3 |
6.6 |
7.0 |
226 |
236 |
238 |
220 |
231 |
|
|
3.7 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
3.8 |
1 623 |
1 708 |
1 696 |
1 683 |
1 669 |
|
|
7.9 |
6.3 |
7.0 |
6.3 |
6.3 |
60 |
46 |
52 |
47 |
47 |
|
|
4.6 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
4.8 |
134 |
146 |
148 |
146 |
140 |
|
|
9.0 |
9.0 |
9.8 |
10.4 |
9.5 |
426 |
429 |
474 |
502 |
452 |
|
|
10.6 |
10.3 |
10.3 |
10.3 |
10.3 |
2 625 |
2 566 |
2 586 |
2 595 |
2 588 |
|
|
7.5 |
8.1 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
2 396 |
2 587 |
2 615 |
2 615 |
2 632 |
|
|
4.9 |
4.6 |
4.5 |
4.3 |
4.2 |
87 |
82 |
80 |
77 |
75 |
|
|
6.1 |
5.2 |
5.4 |
5.2 |
5.1 |
1 570 |
1 332 |
1 368 |
1 328 |
1 310 |
|
|
4.6 |
3.9 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
3.2 |
24 |
21 |
19 |
17 |
17 |
|
|
6.6 |
6.8 |
6.7 |
6.6 |
6.5 |
63 |
65 |
63 |
62 |
62 |
|
|
6.9 |
7.1 |
7.1 |
7.0 |
7.1 |
108 |
112 |
113 |
112 |
113 |
|
|
6.5 |
7.0 |
6.9 |
7.0 |
7.0 |
23 |
24 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
|
|
4.3 |
4.5 |
4.6 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
212 |
220 |
223 |
214 |
223 |
|
|
3.0 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
10 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
|
3.8 |
4.0 |
4.1 |
4.0 |
3.9* |
387 |
415 |
416 |
407 |
397* |
|
|
5.6 |
5.6 |
5.9 |
5.7 |
5.7 |
266 |
270 |
283 |
273 |
274 |
|
|
3.1 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
543 |
535 |
531 |
536 |
542 |
|
|
6.2 |
5.6 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
5.7 |
347 |
315 |
327 |
325 |
322 |
|
|
6.1 |
6.3 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
6.3 |
502 |
520 |
516 |
534 |
512 |
|
|
3.5 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
36 |
42 |
42 |
42 |
43 |
|
|
5.4 |
5.7 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
148 |
158 |
160 |
161 |
161 |
|
|
9.3 |
10.3 |
10.4 |
10.5 |
10.6 |
266 |
297 |
300 |
302 |
305 |
|
|
8.8 |
8.7 |
8.7 |
8.7 |
8.6 |
504 |
505 |
503 |
502 |
500 |
|
|
4.0 |
5.6 |
5.7 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
9 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
|
|
4.4 |
4.6 |
4.7 |
4.8 |
4.8 |
133 |
142 |
144 |
146 |
148 |
|
|
4.8 |
5.0 |
4.9 |
5.0 |
: |
245 |
255 |
251 |
256 |
: |
|
|
4.2 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
7 173 |
7 379 |
7 640 |
7 186 |
7 365 |
|
|
Seasonally adjusted youth (under 25s) unemployment |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rates (%) |
Number of persons (in thousands) |
|||||||||
|
Apr-25 |
Jan-26 |
Feb-26 |
Mar-26 |
Apr-26 |
Apr-25 |
Jan-26 |
Feb-26 |
Mar-26 |
Apr-26 |
|
|
14.5 |
15.1 |
15.1 |
15.1 |
14.7 |
2 324 |
2 388 |
2 403 |
2 387 |
2 337 |
|
|
14.9 |
15.4 |
15.5 |
15.6 |
15.1 |
2 891 |
2 963 |
2 991 |
3 004 |
2 913 |
|
|
15.5 |
18.7 |
18.7 |
18.7 |
: |
74 |
88 |
88 |
88 |
: |
|
|
13.0 |
11.5 |
11.5 |
11.1 |
11.0 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
|
11.2 |
10.1 |
10.9 |
9.9 |
9.9 |
33 |
32 |
34 |
32 |
31 |
|
|
14.5 |
14.5 |
15.9 |
15.6 |
12.9 |
75 |
75 |
80 |
78 |
65 |
|
|
6.8 |
7.4 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.2 |
309 |
325 |
323 |
320 |
316 |
|
|
20.1 |
17.6 |
21.4 |
20.2 |
20.3 |
12 |
10 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
|
|
11.6 |
12.0 |
12.1 |
11.2 |
9.8 |
43 |
44 |
43 |
39 |
34 |
|
|
19.1 |
21.2 |
22.1 |
25.3 |
18.4 |
49 |
54 |
58 |
70 |
48 |
|
|
24.9 |
24.0 |
24.3 |
24.2 |
23.7 |
451 |
445 |
455 |
457 |
447 |
|
|
19.0 |
21.2 |
21.2 |
21.2 |
21.4 |
653 |
729 |
726 |
731 |
737 |
|
|
18.1 |
17.0 |
17.0 |
17.0 |
: |
21 |
19 |
19 |
19 |
: |
|
|
20.3 |
18.0 |
17.1 |
17.7 |
16.9 |
271 |
223 |
212 |
214 |
208 |
|
|
15.1 |
12.7 |
12.7 |
12.7 |
: |
5 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
: |
|
|
16.8 |
10.7 |
8.6 |
7.6 |
8.2 |
12 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
|
|
14.4 |
15.2 |
15.3 |
15.7 |
14.4 |
14 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
|
|
18.1 |
20.5 |
20.5 |
20.2 |
20.3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
|
13.8 |
14.0 |
13.2 |
12.6 |
12.8 |
41 |
40 |
39 |
36 |
36 |
|
|
8.2 |
9.8 |
9.9 |
9.6 |
9.1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
8.8 |
9.3 |
9.2 |
8.9 |
8.7* |
159 |
168 |
168 |
160 |
157* |
|
|
10.1 |
10.4 |
11.8 |
11.3 |
9.5 |
53 |
56 |
63 |
59 |
50 |
|
|
12.5 |
11.6 |
11.9 |
12.1 |
12.4 |
136 |
130 |
134 |
136 |
138 |
|
|
19.6 |
18.2 |
18.5 |
19.0 |
17.9 |
75 |
68 |
70 |
71 |
67 |
|
|
24.6 |
28.8 |
28.8 |
28.8 |
: |
128 |
142 |
142 |
142 |
: |
|
|
11.2 |
14.2 |
14.2 |
14.2 |
: |
8 |
13 |
13 |
13 |
: |
|
|
15.1 |
16.4 |
17.1 |
17.5 |
17.5 |
22 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
22 |
|
|
20.9 |
22.4 |
22.4 |
22.3 |
22.2 |
69 |
76 |
75 |
75 |
75 |
|
|
23.9 |
24.3 |
24.3 |
24.3 |
24.4 |
164 |
172 |
172 |
172 |
173 |
|
|
9.1 |
12.3 |
12.6 |
12.8 |
12.9 |
3 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
|
13.5 |
13.8 |
14.5 |
14.9 |
11.2 |
61 |
61 |
68 |
68 |
50 |
|
|
8.9 |
8.1 |
8.3 |
8.5 |
: |
54 |
47 |
49 |
50 |
: |
|
|
Seasonally adjusted unemployment rates (%), by sex |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Males |
Females |
|||||||||
|
Apr-25 |
Jan-26 |
Feb-26 |
Mar-26 |
Apr-26 |
Apr-25 |
Jan-26 |
Feb-26 |
Mar-26 |
Apr-26 |
|
|
6.1 |
6.1 |
6.2 |
6.1 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.6 |
6.6 |
6.5 |
|
|
5.8 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
6.3 |
6.2 |
|
|
6.8 |
6.4 |
6.3 |
6.3 |
6.3 |
5.2 |
6.3 |
6.2 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
|
|
3.5 |
3.2 |
3.1 |
3.1 |
3.0 |
3.3 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
2.6 |
2.6 |
|
|
2.5 |
2.7 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
2.7 |
3.1 |
3.7 |
3.6 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
|
|
7.0 |
6.2 |
6.5 |
6.8 |
7.0 |
6.6 |
8.1 |
8.1 |
6.5 |
7.0 |
|
|
4.0 |
4.2 |
4.2 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
|
|
8.4 |
6.8 |
6.8 |
6.6 |
6.6 |
7.4 |
5.8 |
7.2 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
|
|
4.7 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
4.7 |
4.5 |
4.4 |
5.1 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.2 |
|
|
7.3 |
6.3 |
7.1 |
7.8 |
5.9 |
11.0 |
12.2 |
13.1 |
13.5 |
13.7 |
|
|
9.5 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
9.0 |
11.9 |
11.7 |
11.8 |
11.8 |
11.8 |
|
|
7.6 |
8.4 |
8.5 |
8.6 |
8.6 |
7.4 |
7.7 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
|
|
5.3 |
5.1 |
5.0 |
4.8 |
4.6 |
4.4 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
|
|
5.6 |
4.9 |
5.0 |
4.7 |
4.7 |
6.9 |
5.7 |
5.9 |
5.8 |
5.7 |
|
|
4.2 |
3.7 |
3.4 |
3.2 |
3.0 |
4.9 |
4.0 |
3.6 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
|
|
6.9 |
7.2 |
6.9 |
6.7 |
6.7 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
6.3 |
|
|
7.9 |
8.1 |
8.1 |
7.9 |
8.0 |
5.9 |
6.0 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
6.2 |
|
|
6.3 |
6.6 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
6.7 |
6.6 |
7.4 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
|
|
4.4 |
4.6 |
4.6 |
4.5 |
4.4 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
|
|
3.2 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
3.6 |
3.6 |
2.7 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
|
|
3.6 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.8 |
3.8* |
4.0 |
4.1 |
4.2 |
4.1 |
4.0* |
|
|
5.5 |
5.8 |
5.9 |
5.7 |
6.1 |
5.6 |
5.5 |
6.0 |
5.7 |
5.4 |
|
|
2.9 |
2.9 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
3.3 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
|
|
5.6 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
6.9 |
6.2 |
6.4 |
6.2 |
6.1 |
|
|
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
6.2 |
6.2 |
6.1 |
6.5 |
6.3 |
6.9 |
6.3 |
|
|
3.5 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
3.9 |
3.5 |
4.3 |
4.1 |
4.2 |
4.3 |
|
|
5.0 |
5.5 |
5.5 |
5.6 |
5.5 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
6.2 |
|
|
9.9 |
11.0 |
11.0 |
11.1 |
11.3 |
8.6 |
9.6 |
9.7 |
9.8 |
9.8 |
|
|
8.6 |
8.9 |
8.9 |
8.9 |
8.9 |
8.9 |
8.5 |
8.5 |
8.4 |
8.4 |
|
|
4.1 |
5.4 |
5.5 |
5.6 |
5.6 |
3.8 |
5.7 |
5.9 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
|
|
4.6 |
5.1 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
5.1 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
4.3 |
4.4 |
4.1 |
|
|
4.7 |
5.0 |
4.9 |
5.0 |
: |
4.8 |
4.9 |
4.9 |
5.0 |
: |
|
Notes for users
Revisions and timetable
The data in this News Release can be subject to revisions, caused by updates to the seasonally adjusted series whenever new monthly data are added; the inclusion of the most recent EU-LFS data in the calculation process; update of seasonal adjustment models with complete annual data.
Compared with the rates published in the News Release of 30 April 2026, the March 2026 unemployment rate for the euro area has been revised from 6.2% to 6.3%, while the unemployment rate for the EU remained unchanged. Among EU Member States, the rate has been revised by more than 0.1 percentage points (pp) downwards for Cyprus (by 1.0 pp), Estonia (by 0.6 pp), Bulgaria, Denmark and Poland (by 0.3 pp each) as well as for Germany (by 0.2 pp). The rate has been revised by more than 0.1 percentage points (pp) upwards for Greece (by 1.4 pp), France and Lithuania (by 0.5 pp each), Romania (by 0.4 pp), Ireland (by 0.3 pp) as well as for Croatia, Latvia, Slovenia and Slovakia (by 0.2 pp each).
Country notes
Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, Sweden as well as Iceland and Norway: the trend component is used instead of the more volatile seasonally adjusted data.
Estonia and Portugal: 3-month moving averages of EU-LFS data are used instead of pure monthly indicators.
The Netherlands: April 2026 figures are provisional. The data collection process in Statistics Netherlands was exceptionally disrupted during a few days of the data reference period.
Methods and definitions
Eurostat publishes harmonised unemployment rates for individual EU Member States, the euro area and the EU. These unemployment rates are based on the definition recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The measurement is based on a harmonised data source, the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS).
Based on the ILO definition, Eurostat defines unemployed persons as persons aged 15 to 74 who:
The unemployment rate is the number of people unemployed as a percentage of the labour force.
The labour force is the total number of people employed plus unemployed. In this news release unemployment rates are based on employment and unemployment data covering persons aged 15 to 74.
The youth unemployment rate is the number of people aged 15 to 24 unemployed as a percentage of the labour force of the same age. Therefore, the youth unemployment rate should not be interpreted as the share of jobless people in the overall youth population.
When data for the most recent month are not available for a Member State, EU and EA aggregates are calculated using the latest data available for that Member State.
Geographical information
Euro area (EA21): Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland.
European Union (EU 27): Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.
