In February 2022, the euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 6.8%, down from 6.9% in January 2022 and from 8.2% in February 2021. The EU unemployment rate was 6.2% in February 2022, down from 6.3% in January 2022 and from 7.5% in February 2021. 

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union,  estimates that 13.267 million men and women in the EU, of whom 11.155 million in the euro area, were unemployed in February 2022. Compared with January 2022, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 221 000 in the EU and by 181 000 in the euro area. Compared with February 2021, unemployment decreased by 2.568 million in the EU and by 2.150 million in the euro area.

Youth unemployment

In February 2022, 2.581 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU, of whom 2.101 million were in the euro area. In February 2022, the youth unemployment rate was 14.0% in both the EU and in the euro area, down from 14.3% in both areas in the previous month. Compared with January 2022, youth unemployment decreased by 38 000 in the EU and by 26 000 in the euro area. Compared with February 2021, youth unemployment decreased by 602 000 in the EU and by 512 000 in the euro area.

Unemployment by sex

In February 2022, the unemployment rate for women was 6.5% in the EU, down from 6.6% in January 2022. The unemployment rate for men was 5.9% in February 2022, down from 6.0% in January 2022. In the euro area, the unemployment rate for women remained stable at 7.2% in February 2022, while the unemployment rate for men decreased from 6.6% in January 2022 to 6.4% February 2022.