The unemployment rate in the European Union is at near-record levels.
Industry & EmploymentEuropean Union
- Omissions
- The unemployment rate has been drifting up slightly from its January 2026 all-time low: EU rate 5.8% (Jan 2026) → 5.9% (Feb 2026) → 6.0% (Jun 2026) → 6.1% (Jul 2026), and is 0.1pp higher than in July 2025, so the trend is mildly upward rather than improving.
- The claim is a qualitative statement ('near-record levels') and the MEP cited no source or figure; the exact value (6.1% EU / 6.4% euro area in July 2026) is not mentioned in the speech.
- Sources
- PrimaryEurostat — Euro indicators: Euro area unemployment at 6.4% (July 2026)In July 2026, the euro area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4%, stable compared with June 2026 and up from 6.3% in July 2025. The EU unemployment rate was 6.1% in July 2026, also stable compared with June 2026 and up from 6.0% in July 2025. These figures are published by Eurostat... Eurostat estimates that 13.516 million persons [were unemployed in the EU].
- PrimaryEurostat — Euro indicators: Euro area unemployment at 6.1% (January 2026)In January 2026, the euro area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.1%, down from 6.2% in December 2025 and from 6.3% in January 2025. The EU unemployment rate was 5.8% in January 2026, also down from 5.9% in December 2025 and from 6.0% in January 2025. These figures are published by Eurostat... Eurostat estimates that 12.928 million [persons were unemployed in the EU].
- SecondaryEuronews — Eurozone unemployment unexpectedly falls to record lowThe eurozone job market showed modest improvement in January 2026, with the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate falling to 6.1%, an all-time low.