| Consensus | Consensus Range | Actual | Previous | Revised | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate | 6.2% | 6.2% to 6.3% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.3% |
Highlights
Unemployment in the euro area continued its downward trend in April 2025, with the overall rate falling to 6.2 percent, the lowest over a year. Eurostat's data reveals a reduction of 207,000 unemployed individuals since March and 343,000 compared to April 2024, suggesting a steadily improving labour market. This progress reflects gradual economic resilience, possibly supported by stabilising inflation and sectoral recovery.
Youth unemployment, often a structural concern, also showed encouraging signs. The rate dropped to 14.4 percent, down from 14.8 percent in March, with 74,000 fewer young people unemployed. Although still high, this marginal improvement hints at a modest recovery in youth labour absorption, possibly linked to seasonal hiring and emerging digital sector opportunities.
Gender-based unemployment gaps also narrowed slightly. Women's unemployment declined to 6.5 percent, and men's to 6.0 percent, signalling a more balanced labour recovery. However, the gender gap persists, implying continued barriers to equal labour force participation.
Among the biggest economies in the area, the national unemployment rate did not change between March and April in Spain (10.9 percent after 10.9 percent) and Germany (3.6 percent after 3.6 percent). However, it fell in Italy (5.9 percent after 6.1 percent) and France (7.1 percent after 7.4 percent).
The euro area's labour market appears firmer, with gains across age and gender groups. These improvements could bolster consumer confidence and strengthen the region's post-inflation recovery momentum if sustained. The latest update takes the RPI to minus 8 and the RPI-P to 5, meaning that economic activities remain within the consensus of the euro area economy.
Youth unemployment, often a structural concern, also showed encouraging signs. The rate dropped to 14.4 percent, down from 14.8 percent in March, with 74,000 fewer young people unemployed. Although still high, this marginal improvement hints at a modest recovery in youth labour absorption, possibly linked to seasonal hiring and emerging digital sector opportunities.
Gender-based unemployment gaps also narrowed slightly. Women's unemployment declined to 6.5 percent, and men's to 6.0 percent, signalling a more balanced labour recovery. However, the gender gap persists, implying continued barriers to equal labour force participation.
Among the biggest economies in the area, the national unemployment rate did not change between March and April in Spain (10.9 percent after 10.9 percent) and Germany (3.6 percent after 3.6 percent). However, it fell in Italy (5.9 percent after 6.1 percent) and France (7.1 percent after 7.4 percent).
The euro area's labour market appears firmer, with gains across age and gender groups. These improvements could bolster consumer confidence and strengthen the region's post-inflation recovery momentum if sustained. The latest update takes the RPI to minus 8 and the RPI-P to 5, meaning that economic activities remain within the consensus of the euro area economy.
Market Consensus Before Announcement
Rate expected flat at 6.2 percent.
Definition
The unemployment rate measures the number of unemployed as a percentage of the labor force.
Description
Unemployment data are closely monitored by the financial markets. These data give a comprehensive report on the state of the economy and its future direction. A rising unemployment rate can be a warning sign of hard times while a low rate can be a warning of inflation as wages are bid up to attract labor.
Unemployment data are expressed in both a numerical value and as a percentage of the labor force. Generally, the definition of those unemployed follows that of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It states that an unemployed person is one between the ages of 15 to 74 years of age who was not employed during the reference week, had actively sought work during the past four weeks and was ready to begin working immediately or within two weeks. The unemployment rate is the percentage of unemployed persons over the total number of active persons in the labor market. Active persons are those who are either employed or unemployed.
Eurostat provides an unemployment rate for each EU country as well as for the EMU and EU as a whole. It should be noted that the unemployment rate for a country will frequently differ with that reported by the national statistics agency. That is because of the varying interpretations of the ILO definition by member states and Eurostat.
Unemployment data are expressed in both a numerical value and as a percentage of the labor force. Generally, the definition of those unemployed follows that of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It states that an unemployed person is one between the ages of 15 to 74 years of age who was not employed during the reference week, had actively sought work during the past four weeks and was ready to begin working immediately or within two weeks. The unemployment rate is the percentage of unemployed persons over the total number of active persons in the labor market. Active persons are those who are either employed or unemployed.
Eurostat provides an unemployment rate for each EU country as well as for the EMU and EU as a whole. It should be noted that the unemployment rate for a country will frequently differ with that reported by the national statistics agency. That is because of the varying interpretations of the ILO definition by member states and Eurostat.
