Eurozone Unemployment Rate Falls to Historic Low of 6.1% in February
EU unemployment rate decline reflects a broader economic recovery, with Spain seeing the highest levels of joblessness.
The unemployment rate in the Eurozone dropped to 6.1% in February 2025, marking a new historical low and a decrease of one-tenth of a percentage point from January.
This was reported by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
In the broader context of the European Union (EU), the unemployment rate stood at 5.7%, also down by one-tenth of a point compared to the previous month.
Year-on-year comparisons indicate a decrease of four-tenths of a percentage point in unemployment for both the Eurozone and the EU compared to February 2024.
As of February, there were approximately 12.67 million individuals without work in the EU, with around 10.58 million of those located in the Eurozone.
Compared to January 2025, unemployment decreased by approximately 131,000 in the EU and 70,000 in the Eurozone.
In the year-over-year comparison to February 2024, unemployment figures dropped by 643,000 in both regions.
Spain reported the highest unemployment rate among EU member states at 10.4%, which is a slight decrease of one-tenth of a percentage point from January 2025 and significantly lower than the 11.8% recorded in February 2024. Following Spain, the countries with the highest unemployment rates in February were Sweden at 9%, Finland at 8.8%, and Greece at 8.6%.
Conversely, the countries recording the lowest unemployment rates included Poland at 2.6%, followed closely by the Czech Republic and Malta at 2.7% each.
Other low unemployment rates were observed in Slovenia (3.2%), Bulgaria and Ireland (3.9% each), the Netherlands (3.8%), and Germany (3.5%).
In terms of youth unemployment (individuals under 25 years of age), the Eurozone experienced a rise of one-tenth of a percentage point to 14.2%, while the EU saw a reduction of one-tenth to 14.5%.
Compared to February 2024, youth unemployment fell by six-tenths of a percentage point in the Eurozone and four-tenths in the EU. According to Eurostat, there were 2.8 million unemployed individuals under 25 in the EU, with 2.27 million in the Eurozone.
Spain also reported the highest youth unemployment rate in the EU at 25.5%, representing a two-tenths increase from January 2025 but a drop from the 27.5% seen in February 2024. Other countries with high youth unemployment rates included Sweden at 25.1%, Luxembourg at 21.8%, Portugal at 20.9%, and Finland at 20%.
Analyzing unemployment by gender, the rate for women in the EU was stable at 6% in February, while for men it decreased to 5.5%, a drop of one-tenth from January.
In the Eurozone, the female unemployment rate was 6.4%, remaining unchanged from the previous month, whereas the rate for men declined to 5.9%.
In Spain, unemployment declined by one-tenth among both men (to 9.2% in February) and women (to 11.6%).
This was reported by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
In the broader context of the European Union (EU), the unemployment rate stood at 5.7%, also down by one-tenth of a point compared to the previous month.
Year-on-year comparisons indicate a decrease of four-tenths of a percentage point in unemployment for both the Eurozone and the EU compared to February 2024.
As of February, there were approximately 12.67 million individuals without work in the EU, with around 10.58 million of those located in the Eurozone.
Compared to January 2025, unemployment decreased by approximately 131,000 in the EU and 70,000 in the Eurozone.
In the year-over-year comparison to February 2024, unemployment figures dropped by 643,000 in both regions.
Spain reported the highest unemployment rate among EU member states at 10.4%, which is a slight decrease of one-tenth of a percentage point from January 2025 and significantly lower than the 11.8% recorded in February 2024. Following Spain, the countries with the highest unemployment rates in February were Sweden at 9%, Finland at 8.8%, and Greece at 8.6%.
Conversely, the countries recording the lowest unemployment rates included Poland at 2.6%, followed closely by the Czech Republic and Malta at 2.7% each.
Other low unemployment rates were observed in Slovenia (3.2%), Bulgaria and Ireland (3.9% each), the Netherlands (3.8%), and Germany (3.5%).
In terms of youth unemployment (individuals under 25 years of age), the Eurozone experienced a rise of one-tenth of a percentage point to 14.2%, while the EU saw a reduction of one-tenth to 14.5%.
Compared to February 2024, youth unemployment fell by six-tenths of a percentage point in the Eurozone and four-tenths in the EU. According to Eurostat, there were 2.8 million unemployed individuals under 25 in the EU, with 2.27 million in the Eurozone.
Spain also reported the highest youth unemployment rate in the EU at 25.5%, representing a two-tenths increase from January 2025 but a drop from the 27.5% seen in February 2024. Other countries with high youth unemployment rates included Sweden at 25.1%, Luxembourg at 21.8%, Portugal at 20.9%, and Finland at 20%.
Analyzing unemployment by gender, the rate for women in the EU was stable at 6% in February, while for men it decreased to 5.5%, a drop of one-tenth from January.
In the Eurozone, the female unemployment rate was 6.4%, remaining unchanged from the previous month, whereas the rate for men declined to 5.9%.
In Spain, unemployment declined by one-tenth among both men (to 9.2% in February) and women (to 11.6%).
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