LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Europe

Southern Europe: LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force was 12.1 in 2027. ▼ Falling

Latest (2027)
12.1
Change on year
down 1.4%
Rank
25th
of 87 groups
All-time high
25.89
in 2013
All-time low
12.1
in 2027
Years of data
24
2004–2027

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Europe, 2004–2027

01020302004201520272004: 172005: 16.42006: 15.52007: 14.92008: 15.42009: 18.42010: 20.22011: 21.62012: 24.42013: 25.92014: 25.42015: 23.92016: 22.32017: 20.22018: 18.52019: 17.32020: 18.52021: 17.72022: 15.12023: 142024: 13.12025: 12.62026: 12.32027: 12.1

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

Southern Europe recorded 12.1 for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in 2027. That is the lowest value across all 24 years on record.

The figure is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 40.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Europe peaked at 25.89 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 12.1, in 2027.

That places Southern Europe 25th out of 87 groups with data for 2027, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.

LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Europe, year by year

Annual values for LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (ILO modelled estimates) in Southern Europe, 2004 to 2027.
Year Value Change
2004 17
2005 16.35 -3.8%
2006 15.49 -5.3%
2007 14.94 -3.6%
2008 15.4 +3.1%
2009 18.42 +19.6%
2010 20.22 +9.8%
2011 21.56 +6.6%
2012 24.44 +13.4%
2013 25.89 +5.9%
2014 25.39 -1.9%
2015 23.92 -5.8%
2016 22.27 -6.9%
2017 20.21 -9.3%
2018 18.54 -8.2%
2019 17.25 -6.9%
2020 18.47 +7.0%
2021 17.67 -4.3%
2022 15.12 -14.4%
2023 13.96 -7.7%
2024 13.09 -6.2%
2025 12.64 -3.4%
2026 12.27 -3.0%
2027 12.1 -1.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 16.27 14.94 18.42 6
2010s 21.97 17.25 25.89 10
2020s 14.41 12.1 18.47 8

More work & labour data for Southern Europe

All data for Southern Europe →

Frequently asked questions

What is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Europe?
Lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Europe was 12.1 in 2027, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Southern Europe?
The highest recorded value was 25.89 in 2013.
What is the lowest lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force recorded in Southern Europe?
The lowest recorded value was 12.1 in 2027.
How does Southern Europe rank for lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force?
Southern Europe ranks 25th out of 87 groups with data for 2027.
Is lu3: combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force rising or falling in Southern Europe?
Over the last ten years it is down 40.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Southern Europe data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force in Southern Europe. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 17 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/lu3-combined-rate-of-unemployment-and-potential-labour-force-ilo-modelled-estimates/southern-europe/

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About this data

Indicator
LU3: Combined rate of unemployment and potential labour force (ILO modelled estimates)
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
87 places, 2,088 data points, 2004–2027
Last refreshed

Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. LU3 represents the share of the extended labour force that are in unemployment or the potential labour force. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.