EuroWire, BRUSSELS: Unemployment in the euro area edged lower in November, while the jobless rate across the wider European Union was unchanged, according to seasonally adjusted figures published by Eurostat on Thursday. Eurostat said the unemployment rate in the 20-country euro area eased to 6.3% in November 2025 from 6.4% in October. The rate was 6.2% in November 2024. Across the 27-country European Union, unemployment held steady at 6.0% in November, the same as in October, and higher than the 5.8% recorded a year earlier.
In headcount terms, Eurostat estimated 13.225 million people in the European Union were unemployed in November. Of those, 10.937 million were in the euro area. Compared with October 2025, the number of unemployed people fell by 97,000 in the European Union and by 71,000 in the euro area. Compared with November 2024, the number of unemployed rose by 416,000 in the European Union and by 253,000 in the euro area.
The euro area accounted for more than four out of every five unemployed people counted across the EU in November, based on Eurostat’s estimates, reflecting the larger population covered by the single-currency group. Eurostat also reported a decline in youth unemployment, a measure covering people under 25. In November 2025, 2.923 million young people were unemployed in the European Union, including 2.318 million in the euro area.
The youth unemployment rate in the EU slipped to 15.1% from 15.2% in October. In the euro area, the youth unemployment rate fell to 14.6% from 14.8%. On a month-to-month basis, the number of unemployed young people decreased by 44,000 in the European Union and by 42,000 in the euro area, Eurostat said. Compared with November 2024, youth unemployment increased by 24,000 in the European Union and by 11,000 in the euro area.
Data published by Eurostat also showed differences in unemployment by sex. In the European Union, the unemployment rate for women was 6.2% in November and the rate for men was 5.8%, with both unchanged from October. In the euro area, the unemployment rate for women was 6.5%, down from 6.6% in October, while the rate for men was 6.1%, unchanged on the month.
Employment conditions across the eurozone
National figures included in the release showed a wide range of unemployment rates across member states. Spain reported a 10.4% unemployment rate in November, while Finland was at 10.1% and Sweden at 9.0%. Greece recorded 8.2% and France 7.7%. At the lower end, Czechia and Poland were each at 3.2%, Bulgaria was at 3.5%, Germany was at 3.8%, and the Netherlands was at 4.0%. Italy was reported at 5.7% and Portugal at 5.7%, while Austria was at 5.8% and Romania at 6.0%. Ireland’s rate was 4.9%, and Malta was reported at 3.1%.
Eurostat said the estimates are based on the International Labour Organisation standard definition of unemployment. Under that definition, unemployed people are those aged 15 to 74 who do not have a job, have actively sought work in the past four weeks, and are available to start work within the next two weeks. The figures are seasonally adjusted, a statistical method used to smooth recurring calendar-related patterns and make month-to-month comparisons more consistent.
Eurostat seasonal adjustment framework
The release also noted that Eurostat complements the monthly unemployment data with additional labour market indicators, including underemployed part-time workers, people seeking work but not immediately available, and people available to work but not seeking. Eurostat said those indicators are released alongside EU Labour Force Survey data, with third-quarter 2025 results published earlier and fourth-quarter 2025 survey data scheduled for release on March 13, 2026. Eurostat said its next monthly unemployment release is scheduled for Jan. 30, 2026.