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Unemployment rate · Euro Area

Euro Area Unemployment Rate

The Euro Area Unemployment Rate measures the share of the labour force in the Euro Area, people working or actively looking for work, who have no job but want one.

Importance
High
Released
Monthly
Next release
Currency
EUR · euro
Central bank
The European Central Bank
Moves
EURAUD# · EURCAD# · EURCHF# · EURDKK# · EURGBP · EURHKD# · EURHUF# · EURJPY#

Latest figures

The latest release for SEP, published on 30 October 2026, came in at 6.5%, above the consensus of 6.4%, unchanged from 6.5% the time before (revised).

A higher unemployment rate than expected points to a weakening labour market: the euro tends to soften as markets price in lower rates.

Over the last 12 releases it ranged from 6.1% to 6.5%, averaging 6.3%.

Dec 2025: 6.4%Jan 2026: 6.3%Jan 2026: 6.2%Mar 2026: 6.1%Apr 2026: 6.2%Apr 2026: 6.2%Jun 2026: 6.3%Jul 2026: 6.2%Jul 2026: 6.3%Sep 2026: 6.4%Oct 2026: 6.4%Oct 2026: 6.5% Dec 2025Oct 2026
Actual results; the short line on a bar marks the consensus.
ReleasedForActualConsensusPrevious
30 Oct 2026SEP6.5%6.4%6.5% ®
1 Oct 2026AUG6.4%6.4%6.4%
1 Sep 2026JUL6.4%6.3%6.4% ®
30 Jul 2026JUN6.3%6.2%6.3% ®
2 Jul 2026MAY6.2%6.3%6.2% ®
1 Jun 2026APR6.3%6.2%6.3% ®
30 Apr 2026MAR6.2%6.2%6.3% ®
1 Apr 2026FEB6.2%6.1%6.1%
4 Mar 2026JAN6.1%6.2%6.2%
30 Jan 2026DEC6.2%6.3%6.3%
8 Jan 2026NOV6.3%6.4%6.4%
2 Dec 2025OCT6.4%6.3%6.4% ®

See it in the economic calendar →

Why it matters

Full employment is part of most central banks' mandate. A falling unemployment rate means a tighter labour market, faster wage growth and more inflation pressure, which can keep the European Central Bank hawkish; a rising rate is one of the clearest recession signals (the US "Sahm rule" flags a 0.5-point rise in the three-month average).

How it is calculated

Eurostat usually runs a household survey: people are counted as unemployed if they had no work, were available and looked for a job recently. The rate is unemployed ÷ (employed + unemployed). Registered jobless and claimant counts instead count people signed on for benefits. Participation is the labour force ÷ working-age population.

Unemployment rate = unemployed ÷ labour force × 100
Labour force = employed + unemployed

What changes mean

  • A lower rate than expected usually supports the euro.
  • Check participation: unemployment can fall because people stop looking, which is not good news.
  • Broader measures (US U-6) include part-timers who want more hours.

Higher than expected: A higher unemployment rate than expected points to a weakening labour market: the euro tends to soften as markets price in lower rates.

Lower than expected: A lower unemployment rate than expected signals a tight labour market: it tends to support the euro and push bond yields up.

A short history

Systematic unemployment statistics began in the 1930s Depression; the International Labour Organization's definition, adopted in 1982, is used by most countries today.

Questions

What is the Euro Area Unemployment Rate?

The Euro Area Unemployment Rate measures the share of the labour force in the Euro Area, people working or actively looking for work, who have no job but want one.

What was the latest Euro Area Unemployment Rate?

6.5% for SEP, published on 30 October 2026 (consensus 6.4%, previous 6.5%).

When is the next Euro Area Unemployment Rate?

On Wednesday 2 December 2026 at 10:00 UTC.

Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.