Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in European Union
European Union: Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) was 6.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in European Union, 1990–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in European Union is 6.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.4% on the previous year and down 39.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in European Union peaked at 13.5% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 6.2%, in 2024.
That places European Union 12th out of 24 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 10.5% | — |
| 1991 | 10.6% | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 11.3% | +7.1% |
| 1993 | 13.0% | +14.7% |
| 1994 | 13.5% | +4.1% |
| 1995 | 13.1% | -3.0% |
| 1996 | 13.0% | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 12.8% | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 12.4% | -3.0% |
| 1999 | 11.9% | -4.4% |
| 2000 | 11.4% | -4.3% |
| 2001 | 10.6% | -7.0% |
| 2002 | 10.7% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 10.7% | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 10.8% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 10.7% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 9.7% | -9.0% |
| 2007 | 8.4% | -13.6% |
| 2008 | 8.0% | -5.0% |
| 2009 | 9.4% | +17.8% |
| 2010 | 10.0% | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 10.2% | +1.4% |
| 2012 | 11.1% | +8.7% |
| 2013 | 11.5% | +3.8% |
| 2014 | 11.0% | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 10.2% | -7.7% |
| 2016 | 9.4% | -8.0% |
| 2017 | 8.4% | -10.0% |
| 2018 | 7.5% | -10.5% |
| 2019 | 7.0% | -7.3% |
| 2020 | 7.4% | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 7.3% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 6.5% | -11.3% |
| 2023 | 6.3% | -3.0% |
| 2024 | 6.2% | -2.1% |
| 2025 | 6.2% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 12.2% | 10.5% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.0% | 8.0% | 11.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.6% | 7.0% | 11.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.6% | 6.2% | 7.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More work & labour data for European Union
- 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 for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in European Union?
- Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) in European Union was 6.2% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 13.5% in 1994.
- What is the lowest unemployment, female (% of female labor force) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.2% in 2024.
- How does European Union rank for unemployment, female (% of female labor force)?
- European Union ranks 12th out of 24 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, female (% of female labor force) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 39.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, female (% of female labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.