Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union
European Union: Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) was 16.2% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
European Union recorded 16.2% for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.6% on the previous year and down 33.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union peaked at 26.8% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 16.1%, in 2007.
That places European Union 8th out of 47 groups with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 17.0% | — |
| 1992 | 18.2% | +6.9% |
| 1993 | 22.1% | +21.1% |
| 1994 | 23.5% | +6.7% |
| 1995 | 22.2% | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 22.4% | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 21.3% | -4.8% |
| 1998 | 20.2% | -5.3% |
| 1999 | 20.4% | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 19.4% | -5.2% |
| 2001 | 19.1% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 20.0% | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 20.3% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 20.8% | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 20.7% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 18.5% | -10.4% |
| 2007 | 16.1% | -13.2% |
| 2008 | 16.2% | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 21.9% | +35.0% |
| 2010 | 23.1% | +5.3% |
| 2011 | 23.5% | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 25.8% | +9.9% |
| 2013 | 26.8% | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 25.9% | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 24.3% | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 22.4% | -8.0% |
| 2017 | 20.1% | -10.0% |
| 2018 | 18.2% | -9.5% |
| 2019 | 17.0% | -7.0% |
| 2020 | 18.6% | +9.7% |
| 2021 | 18.2% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 16.1% | -11.9% |
| 2023 | 16.4% | +1.8% |
| 2024 | 16.3% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 16.2% | -0.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 20.8% | 17.0% | 23.5% | 9 |
| 2000s | 19.3% | 16.1% | 21.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 22.7% | 17.0% | 26.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.9% | 16.1% | 18.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near European Union
More work & labour data for European Union
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, total (%) 40.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, female (%) 38.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 51.6% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate for ages 15-24, male (%) 43.5% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 81.9% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 63.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages) 70.5% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 57.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages) 75.2% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 79.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union?
- Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) in European Union was 16.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 26.8% in 2013.
- What is the lowest unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.1% in 2007.
- How does European Union rank for unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24)?
- European Union ranks 8th out of 47 groups with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, youth male (% of male labor force ages 15-24) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Youth unemployment refers to the share of the labor force ages 15-24 without work but available for and seeking employment.