The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 6.4% in the euro area and 6.1% in the European Union in August 2026, according to Eurostat’s 1 October estimate. Both rates were unchanged from July, but were above August 2025 levels of 6.3% and 6.0%, respectively.

Eurostat estimated that 13.600 million people were unemployed in the EU and 11.357 million in the euro area in August. Compared with July, the number increased by 12,000 in the EU and 26,000 in the euro area.

Over the year, unemployment counts rose by 348,000 in the EU and 267,000 in the euro area. Counts and rates are related but distinct measures: the rate represents unemployed people as a share of the labour force, while the count estimates how many people were unemployed. The rates are seasonally adjusted.