Monthly unemployment rates in European Union
European Union: Monthly unemployment rates was 6.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025. ▼ Falling
Monthly unemployment rates in European Union, 2000–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
In 2025, monthly unemployment rates in European Union stood at 6.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 41.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, monthly unemployment rates in European Union peaked at 11.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2013 and was at its lowest, 5.94 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 2024.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Monthly unemployment rates in European Union, year by year
| Year | Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.43 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 2001 | 9.22 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 9.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +3.9% |
| 2003 | 9.85 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +2.9% |
| 2004 | 10.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +1.6% |
| 2005 | 9.72 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.9% |
| 2006 | 8.76 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 7.56 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -13.7% |
| 2008 | 7.33 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -3.0% |
| 2009 | 9.32 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +27.2% |
| 2010 | 10.08 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +8.1% |
| 2011 | 10.07 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 11.06 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +9.8% |
| 2013 | 11.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 11.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -4.9% |
| 2015 | 10.19 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 9.27 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -9.1% |
| 2017 | 8.28 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -10.7% |
| 2018 | 7.39 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -10.7% |
| 2019 | 6.81 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -7.9% |
| 2020 | 7.21 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 7.06 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.1% |
| 2022 | 6.19 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 6.05 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.3% |
| 2024 | 5.94 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.8% |
| 2025 | 6.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.08 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.33 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6.81 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 11.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.41 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 5.94 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7.21 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 3 Colombia 8.9 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 4 Greece 8.89 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 5 Sweden 8.87 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 6 Chile 8.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 7 France 7.72 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 8 Canada 6.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 9 Costa Rica 6.74 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is monthly unemployment rates in European Union?
- Monthly unemployment rates in European Union was 6.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest monthly unemployment rates recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 11.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2013.
- What is the lowest monthly unemployment rates recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.94 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2024.
- How does European Union rank for monthly unemployment rates?
- European Union ranks 6th out of 10 regions with data for 2025.
- Is monthly unemployment rates rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Monthly unemployment rates. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The infra-annual dataflow on the monthly unemployment rate is a subset of the infra-annual labour statistics database, which contains predominantly monthly and quarterly statistics on the unemployed population by age groups (15+, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64, 15-64 and 15-74 where available) and sex and associated statistical methodological information and associated statistical methodological information, for the OECD member countries and for selected other economies. The unemployment rate is calculated as the number of unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force (i.e., the unemployed plus those in employment). The unemployed are persons in their working age who, in the reference period, do not have a job; are available for work; and, have taken specific steps to find a job. Chile, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom publish Labour Force Survey (LFS) data using a rolling quarter methodology. The OECD treats the middle month of the rolling quarter as the reference month. As a result, the publication of monthly LFS data for these countries may be delayed by one month or more relative to the OECD reference month. The infra-annual labour statistics compiled for all OECD member countries, are drawn from Labour Force Surveys based on definition provided by the 19th Conference of Labour Statisticians in 2013. The uniform application of these definitions across all OECD member countries results in estimates that are internationally comparable.