As per the estimated figures 13.238 million people were unemployed across the EU in April 2026, including 11.075 million in the euro area, Eurostat said in a press release.
Compared with March 2026, the number of unemployed people declined by 137,000 in the EU and by 84,000 in the euro area. However, compared with April 2025, unemployment increased by 82,000 in the EU and by 45,000 in the euro area.
The euro area unemployment rate remained stable at 6.3 per cent in April 2026, while the EU rate held at 6 per cent, according to Eurostat.
Total unemployment declined MoM in both regions, though annual figures increased slightly.
Youth unemployment improved, with rates falling to 15.1 per cent in the EU and 14.7 per cent in the euro area.
Women’s unemployment also eased marginally.
Youth unemployment recorded an improvement during the month. In April 2026, around 2.913 million people under the age of 25 were unemployed in the EU, including 2.337 million in the euro area.
The youth unemployment rate in the EU fell to 15.1 per cent in April from 15.6 per cent in March, while the euro area youth unemployment rate declined to 14.7 per cent from 15.1 per cent in the previous month.
On a monthly basis, youth unemployment decreased by 91,000 in the EU and by 50,000 in the euro area. Compared with April 2025, youth unemployment rose by 22,000 in the EU and by 13,000 in the euro area.
By gender, the unemployment rate for women in the EU eased to 6.2 per cent in April 2026 from 6.3 per cent in March, while the rate for men remained stable at 5.8 per cent.
In the euro area, women’s unemployment declined to 6.5 per cent from 6.6 per cent in March, while men’s unemployment edged down to 6 per cent from 6.1 per cent.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
