Euro area jobless rate holds at 6.5 per cent in September

Unemployment across the euro area stood at a seasonally adjusted 6.5 per cent in September 2026, while the EU recorded 6.2 per cent, Eurostat said. Neither rate changed from August, but both exceeded their September 2025 levels of 6.3 per cent and 6.0 per cent respectively.

Eurostat estimated that unemployment affected 13.773 million people across the EU, including 11.555 million in the euro area. The EU total rose by 105 thousand from August, while the euro area recorded an increase of 122 thousand. Compared with September 2025, the increases were 471 thousand and 420 thousand respectively.

Among people under 25, the EU unemployment rate climbed to 15.5 per cent from August’s 15.4 per cent. The euro area youth rate rose to 15.4 per cent from 15.1 per cent. Youth unemployment totalled 3.022 million in the EU, with 2.469 million of those in the euro area.

Women’s unemployment in the EU remained at 6.4 per cent, while men’s held at 6.0 per cent. In the euro area, the rate for women was unchanged at 6.7 per cent; the men’s rate increased to 6.4 per cent from 6.3 per cent in August.

Eurostat also revised its August estimates upwards. The EU rate was adjusted to 6.2 per cent from 6.1 per cent, and the euro area figure to 6.5 per cent from 6.4 per cent.