Eurostat estimates that 12.928 million people in the EU^[1], of whom 10.770 million in the euro area (EA)^[2], were unemployed in January 2026. Compared with December 2025, unemployment decreased by 185 000 in the EU and by 184 000 in the euro area. Compared with January 2025, unemployment decreased by 274 000 in the EU and by 273 000 in the euro area.

Unemployment by sex

In January 2026, the unemployment rate for women was 6.0% in the EU, down from 6.1% in December 2025, and the unemployment rate for men was 5.7%, also down from 5.8% in the previous month. In the euro area, the unemployment rate for women was 6.3%, down from 6.4% in December 2025, and the unemployment rate for men was 6.0%, also down from 6.1% in the previous month.

Sources:

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Unemployment_statistics