As of June 2024, Spain had the highest youth unemployment rate in Europe, at 25.8 percent, with Sweden having the second-highest youth unemployment rate as of this month, at 23.8 percent. Across the 27 member states of the European Union, the overall youth unemployment rate was 14.6 percent, with Germany having the lowest youth unemployment rate of 6.8 percent.

The statistic shows the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate in EU member states as of July 2025. The source defines youth unemployment as unemployment of those younger than 25 years. In July 2025, the seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate in Spain was at 26.6 percent. Youth unemployment rate in EU member states Unemployment is a crucial economic factor for a country; youth unemployment is often examined separately because it tends to be higher than unemployment in older age groups. It comprises the unemployment figures of a country’s labor force aged 15 to 24 years old (i.e. the earliest point at which mandatory school education ends). Typically, teenagers and those in their twenties who are fresh out of education do not find jobs right away, especially if the country’s economy is experiencing difficulties, as can be seen above. Additionally, it also tends to be higher in emerging markets than in industrialized nations. Worldwide, youth unemployment figures have not changed significantly over the last decade, nor are they expected to improve in the next few years. Youth unemployment is most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa, even though these regions report high unemployment figures regardless (Zimbabwe and Turkmenistan are among the countries with the highest unemployment rates in the world, for example), and are also highly populated areas with a rather weak infrastructure, compared to industrialized regions. In the European Union and the euro area, unemployment in general has been on the rise since 2008, which is due to the economic crisis which caused bankruptcy and financial trouble for many employers, and thus led to considerable job loss, less job offerings, and consequently, to a rise of the unemployment rate. Older workers are struggling to find new jobs despite their experience, and young graduates are struggling to find new jobs, because they have none. All in all, the number of unemployed persons worldwide is projected to rise, this is not down to the economic crisis alone, but also the industrial automation of processes previously performed by workers, as well as rising population figures.

Youth Unemployment Rate in European Union remained unchanged at 14.80 percent in September. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - European Union Youth Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

This dataset provides values for YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The youth unemployment rate in the European Union was **** percent in August 2025, compared with **** percent a year earlier in August 2024. The female and male youth unemployment rates have converged significantly over the past two decades, as before the global financial crisis and great recession.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for the European Union (SLUEM1524ZSEUU) from 1991 to 2024 about EU, Europe, unemployment, and rate.

The domain 'Youth Employment' is based on the results of the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS).

The EU-LFS is a quarterly household sample survey carried out in the Member States of the European Union, EFTA countries (except for Liechtenstein) and Candidate Countries (Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey). It is the main source of information about the situation and trends on the labour market in the European Union.

Since 1 January 2021, the EU-LFS is based on Regulation (EU) 2019/1700, also called the Integrated European Social Statistics Framework Regulation (IESS FR), and its Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2240.

According to the regulations in force since 1 January 2021, the EU-LFS is organised in 9 topics:

• Technical items
• Person and household characteristics;
• Labour market participation;
• Educational attainment and background;
• Job tenure, work biography and previous work experience;
• Working conditions including working hours and working time arrangements;
• Participation in education and training;
• Health: status and disability, access to, availability and use of health care and health determinants;
• Income, consumption and elements of wealth, including debts.

The survey's target population consists of all persons in private households, although the variables related to labour market are only collected for persons aged 15-89 years and education and training for persons aged 15-74 years.

Detailed information on main features, legal basis, methodology and data as well as on the historical development of the EU-LFS is available on the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.

The seasonally adjusted youth unemployment rate (under 25 years) in the European Union and the Euro area has fluctuated from August 2022 to August 2025. Over the past year, the EU's youth unemployment rate decreased from 15.2 percent in August 2024 to 14.6 percent in August 2025.

Youth Unemployment Rate In the Euro Area increased to 14.40 percent in September from 14.30 percent in August of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Euro Area Youth Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

This statistic shows the youth unemployment rate as a share of the total labor force in the European Union and the Euro area from 2011 to 2024. The figures refer to those younger than 25 years. In 2024, the youth unemployment rate in the EU was 14.9 percent.

Historical dataset showing European Union youth unemployment rate by year from 1991 to 2024.

The youth unemployment rate is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed persons aged 15 to 24 by the total active population of the same age group. The indicator is based on the EU Labour Force Survey.

Graph and download economic data for Youth Unemployment Rate for Developing Countries in Europe and Central Asia (SLUEM1524ZSECA) from 1991 to 2024 about Central Asia, Europe, unemployment, and rate.

View yearly updates and historical trends for European Union Youth Unemployment Rate. Source: World Bank. Track economic data with YCharts analytics.

The domain 'Youth Employment' is based on the results of the European Union Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS).

The EU-LFS is a quarterly household sample survey carried out in the Member States of the European Union, EFTA countries (except for Liechtenstein) and Candidate Countries (Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey). It is the main source of information about the situation and trends on the labour market in the European Union.

Since 1 January 2021, the EU-LFS is based on Regulation (EU) 2019/1700, also called the Integrated European Social Statistics Framework Regulation (IESS FR), and its Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2240.

According to the regulations in force since 1 January 2021, the EU-LFS is organised in 9 topics:

• Technical items
• Person and household characteristics;
• Labour market participation;
• Educational attainment and background;
• Job tenure, work biography and previous work experience;
• Working conditions including working hours and working time arrangements;
• Participation in education and training;
• Health: status and disability, access to, availability and use of health care and health determinants;
• Income, consumption and elements of wealth, including debts.

The survey's target population consists of all persons in private households, although the variables related to labour market are only collected for persons aged 15-89 years and education and training for persons aged 15-74 years.

Detailed information on main features, legal basis, methodology and data as well as on the historical development of the EU-LFS is available on the EU-LFS (Statistics Explained) webpage.

View monthly updates and historical trends for European Union 27 Male Youth Unemployment Rate. Source: Eurostat. Track economic data with YCharts analytic…

The youth unemployment rate in the European Union and the Euro area rose during the first months of COVID-19 in Europe. It then started slowly decreasing from July 2020, falling to around 17 percent in both areas.

Youth unemployment rate by sex and NUTS 2 regions

As of August 2024, there were approximately 2.76 million unemployed people under the age of 25 in the European Union. During this time period, youth unemployed peaked in November 2012, when it reached 4.97 million people.

Youth unemployment rate by sex, age and country of birth