Unemployment with basic education in European Union

European Union: Unemployment with basic education was 12.6% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
12.6%
Change on year
down 2.6%
Rank
1st
of 2 regions
All-time high
22.5%
in 2013
All-time low
12.6%
in 2024
Years of data
30
1995–2024

Unemployment with basic education in European Union, 1995–2024

051015201995200920241995: 15.9 % of total labor force with basic education1996: 15.9 % of total labor force with basic education1997: 15.4 % of total labor force with basic education1998: 14.9 % of total labor force with basic education1999: 14.5 % of total labor force with basic education2000: 15.1 % of total labor force with basic education2001: 15.6 % of total labor force with basic education2002: 16.1 % of total labor force with basic education2003: 16.3 % of total labor force with basic education2004: 16.7 % of total labor force with basic education2005: 16.7 % of total labor force with basic education2006: 15.4 % of total labor force with basic education2007: 13.3 % of total labor force with basic education2008: 12.8 % of total labor force with basic education2009: 16.9 % of total labor force with basic education2010: 18.5 % of total labor force with basic education2011: 19.2 % of total labor force with basic education2012: 21.5 % of total labor force with basic education2013: 22.5 % of total labor force with basic education2014: 21.4 % of total labor force with basic education2015: 19.6 % of total labor force with basic education2016: 18.3 % of total labor force with basic education2017: 16.8 % of total labor force with basic education2018: 15.3 % of total labor force with basic education2019: 14.4 % of total labor force with basic education2020: 14.6 % of total labor force with basic education2021: 14.9 % of total labor force with basic education2022: 13.4 % of total labor force with basic education2023: 13 % of total labor force with basic education2024: 12.6 % of total labor force with basic education

Source: Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Measured in % of total labor force with basic education.

Analysis

In 2024, unemployment with basic education in European Union stood at 12.6%. That is the lowest value across all 30 years on record.

The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 41.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, unemployment with basic education in European Union peaked at 22.5% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 12.6%, in 2024.

Unemployment with basic education in European Union, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment with basic education (% of total labor force with basic education) in European Union, 1995 to 2024.
Year % of total labor force with basic education Change
1995 15.9%
1996 15.9% -0.2%
1997 15.4% -2.7%
1998 14.9% -3.6%
1999 14.5% -2.2%
2000 15.1% +3.6%
2001 15.6% +3.3%
2002 16.1% +3.4%
2003 16.3% +1.2%
2004 16.7% +2.7%
2005 16.7% -0.1%
2006 15.4% -7.8%
2007 13.3% -13.7%
2008 12.8% -3.4%
2009 16.9% +31.6%
2010 18.5% +9.2%
2011 19.2% +3.9%
2012 21.5% +12.2%
2013 22.5% +4.3%
2014 21.4% -4.6%
2015 19.6% -8.5%
2016 18.3% -6.6%
2017 16.8% -8.5%
2018 15.3% -8.6%
2019 14.4% -6.2%
2020 14.6% +1.8%
2021 14.9% +1.9%
2022 13.4% -9.8%
2023 13.0% -3.5%
2024 12.6% -2.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 15.3% 14.5% 15.9% 5
2000s 15.5% 12.8% 16.9% 10
2010s 18.7% 14.4% 22.5% 10
2020s 13.7% 12.6% 14.9% 5

Countries ranked near European Union

  1. 1 Slovakia 40.1% compare
  2. 2 South Africa 39.3% compare
  3. 3 Palestine, State of 32.6% compare
  4. 4 Botswana 26.5% compare

See the full ranking of 150 places →

More work & labour data for European Union

All data for European Union →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment with basic education in European Union?
Unemployment with basic education in European Union was 12.6% in 2024, according to Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment with basic education recorded in European Union?
The highest recorded value was 22.5% in 2013.
What is the lowest unemployment with basic education recorded in European Union?
The lowest recorded value was 12.6% in 2024.
How does European Union rank for unemployment with basic education?
European Union ranks 1st out of 2 regions with data for 2024.
Is unemployment with basic education 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 flat.
Where does this European Union data come from?
The figures come from Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment with basic education (% of total labor force with basic education). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment with basic education in European Union. Statizoid, drawing on Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 26 August 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-with-basic-education-percent-of-total-labor-force-with-basic-education/european-union/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment with basic education (% of total labor force with basic education)
Unit
% of total labor force with basic education
Source
Education and Mismatch Indicators database (EMI), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
150 places, 2,716 data points, 1970–2025
Last refreshed

The percentage of the labor force with a basic level of education who are unemployed. Basic education comprises primary education or lower secondary education according to the International Standard Classification of Education 2011 (ISCED 2011).