Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)

European Union - 27 countries (from 2020): Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total was 43.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
43.0%
Change on year
down 4.0%
Rank
1st
of 2 regions
All-time high
64.1%
in 2005
All-time low
43.0%
in 2020
Years of data
18
2003–2020

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020), 2003–2020

02040602003201120202003: 61.2 Percentage2004: 64 Percentage2005: 64.1 Percentage2006: 61.4 Percentage2007: 60.4 Percentage2008: 58.2 Percentage2009: 58.2 Percentage2010: 57 Percentage2011: 54.4 Percentage2012: 51.5 Percentage2013: 50.7 Percentage2014: 49.7 Percentage2015: 49.2 Percentage2016: 47.1 Percentage2017: 47 Percentage2018: 45.8 Percentage2019: 44.8 Percentage2020: 43 Percentage

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage.

Analysis

In 2020, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) stood at 43.0%. That is the lowest value across all 18 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.0% on the previous year and down 24.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) peaked at 64.1% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 43.0%, in 2020.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.

Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020), year by year

Annual values for Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020), 2003 to 2020.
Year Percentage Change
2003 61.2%
2004 64.0% +4.6%
2005 64.1% +0.2%
2006 61.4% -4.2%
2007 60.4% -1.6%
2008 58.2% -3.6%
2009 58.2% +0.0%
2010 57.0% -2.1%
2011 54.4% -4.6%
2012 51.5% -5.3%
2013 50.7% -1.6%
2014 49.7% -2.0%
2015 49.2% -1.0%
2016 47.1% -4.3%
2017 47.0% -0.2%
2018 45.8% -2.6%
2019 44.8% -2.2%
2020 43.0% -4.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 61.1% 58.2% 64.1% 7
2010s 49.7% 44.8% 57.0% 10
2020s 43.0% 43.0% 43.0% 1

Countries ranked near European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)

  1. 1 Lithuania 89.8% compare
  2. 1 Lithuania 89.8% compare
  3. 3 Montenegro 84.4% compare
  4. 4 Czechia 81.4% compare

See the full ranking of 46 places →

More work & labour data for European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)

All data for European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) was 43.0% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
The highest recorded value was 64.1% in 2005.
What is the lowest unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total recorded in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
The lowest recorded value was 43.0% in 2020.
How does European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) rank for unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total?
European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) ranks 1st out of 2 regions with data for 2020.
Is unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total rising or falling in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020)?
Over the last ten years it is down 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this European Union - 27 countries (from 2020) data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total in European Union - 27 countries (from 2020). Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployed-persons-by-methods-used-for-seeking-work-percent-of-total-unemployment/european-union-27-countries-from-2020/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployed persons by methods used for seeking work - % of total unemployment - quarterly data
Unit
Percentage
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
46 places, 991 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed