Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Iceland
Iceland: Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group was 3.81 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2023. ▲ Rising
Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Iceland, 2003–2023
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup.
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Iceland is 3.81 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 16.7% on the previous year and down 48.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Iceland peaked at 11.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2010 and was at its lowest, 1.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup, in 2007.
That places Iceland 32nd out of 37 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Iceland, year by year
| Year | Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 4.42 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | — |
| 2004 | 2.65 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -40.0% |
| 2005 | 2.25 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -15.3% |
| 2006 | 2.74 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +22.1% |
| 2007 | 1.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -43.4% |
| 2008 | 2.73 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +75.6% |
| 2009 | 9.67 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +254.3% |
| 2010 | 11.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +16.8% |
| 2011 | 9.5 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -15.9% |
| 2012 | 7.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -20.3% |
| 2013 | 7.45 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -1.6% |
| 2014 | 7.13 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -4.3% |
| 2015 | 4.94 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -30.7% |
| 2016 | 4.31 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -12.8% |
| 2017 | 3.61 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -16.4% |
| 2018 | 3.51 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -2.6% |
| 2019 | 5.01 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +42.9% |
| 2020 | 8.11 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | +61.6% |
| 2021 | 7.21 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -11.1% |
| 2022 | 4.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -36.6% |
| 2023 | 3.81 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | -16.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.72 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 1.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 9.67 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 7 |
| 2010s | 6.43 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.51 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 11.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.92 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 3.81 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 8.11 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 29 Israel 3.91 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 30 Bulgaria 3.86 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 31 Norway 3.83 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 33 Indonesia 3.57 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 34 Mexico 3.41 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
- 35 Japan 3.24 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup compare
More work & labour data for Iceland
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.4964 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.4501 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.5492 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.2312 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 373.77 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 16.3 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 169.5 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 193.08 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 362.58 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Iceland?
- Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group in Iceland was 3.81 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2023, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group recorded in Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 11.3 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2010.
- What is the lowest unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.55 Percentage of labour force in the same subgroup in 2007.
- How does Iceland rank for unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group?
- Iceland ranks 32nd out of 37 countries with data for 2023.
- Is unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 48.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iceland data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Unemployment rates of adults, by educational attainment, age group and gender. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
This dataset contains data on unemployment rates by educational attainment level, age group and gender. The default table displays 2025 data (or the latest available year) on the unemployment rates of 25-64 year-olds with below upper secondary, upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary, or tertiary attainment. The selection can be changed to display data by more detailed educational attainment level, by programme orientation, by gender and by age group. Filter the time period to display historical data. Data for the latest available year are preliminary. Final data will be released on September 29, 2026. For more information, please consult the Education at a Glance web page and the OECD Handbook for Internationally Comparative Education Statistics: Concepts, Standards, Definitions and Classifications.