Youth unemployment in Spain is around 25%.
Industry & EmploymentSpain
- Omissions
- The most recent data available before the session put Spain's youth unemployment rate at about 23.8% (Q2 2026 EPA) and 23.5% in a 2026 comparison, i.e. somewhat below the 'around 25%' figure cited; only the Q1 2026 EPA reading (24.54%) and Eurostat's December 2025 monthly figure (24.9%) come close to 25%.
- The trend was downward: the youth unemployment rate fell by 0.77 percentage points between Q1 and Q2 2026, so 'around 25%' reflects the less favourable earlier reading of the year.
- Eurostat monthly harmonised rates and Spain's quarterly EPA give slightly different values for the same concept; the speaker does not specify which measure is used.
- Context omitted by the speaker: Spain does have the highest youth unemployment rate in the EU (EU average 15.4% in August 2026), which supports the underlying argument even though the exact figure is slightly overstated.
- Sources
- PrimaryEurostat — Unemployment statistics (Statistics Explained)In August 2026, the youth unemployment rate was 15.4% in the EU, up from 15.3% in the previous month, and 15.0% in the euro area, down from 15.1% in July 2026.
- PrimaryEurostat euro indicators — Euro area unemployment at 6.4% (August 2026)In August 2026, the youth unemployment rate was 15.4% in the EU, up from 15.3% in the previous month, and 15.0% in the euro area
- PrimaryINJUVE (Ministry of Youth, based on INE EPA) — Jóvenes en la EPA, Q1 2026Entre los menores de 25 años el empleo ha bajado en 10.000 ocupados y la tasa de paro sube al 24,54% en el primer trimestre.
- SecondaryEl Boletin — El paro juvenil en España baja al 23,77% en el segundo trimestre de 2026El paro juvenil en España baja al 23,77% en el segundo trimestre de 2026. La tasa de desempleo de los menores de 25 años retrocede 0,77 puntos respecto a los tres primeros meses de 2026.
- Secondaryidealista/news — Spain's unemployment in 2026: second highest in EuropeSpain posts Europe's second highest unemployment rate in 2026, with 9.8 percent. ... With a youth (under-25) unemployment rate of 23.5%, Spain is ...
- SecondaryTrading Economics — Spain youth unemployment rate (Eurostat series)Spain - Youth unemployment rate was 24.90% in December of 2025, according to the EUROSTAT.