In May 2023, the euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 6.5%, stable compared with April 2023 and down from 6.7% in May 2022. The EU unemployment rate was 5.9% in May 2023, down from 6.0% in April 2023 and from 6.1% in May 2022, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union said.
Eurostat estimates that 12.937 million persons in the EU, of whom 11.014 million in the euro area, were
unemployed in May 2023. Compared with April 2023, unemployment decreased by 75 thousand in the EU and by 57 thousand in the euro area. Compared with May 2022, unemployment decreased by 257 thousand in the EU and by 227 thousand in the euro area.
Youth unemployment
In May 2023, 2.696 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU, of whom 2.226 million were in the euro area. In May 2023, the youth unemployment rate was 13.9% both in the EU and in the euro area, respectively up from 13.8% and stable compared with the previous month. Compared with April 2023, youth unemployment increased by 21 thousand in the EU and by 11 thousand in the euro area. Compared with May 2022, youth unemployment increased by 65 thousand in the EU and by 46 thousand in the euro area.
Unemployment by sex
In May 2023, the unemployment rate for women was 6.2% in the EU, down from 6.3% in April 2023. The
unemployment rate for men was 5.7% in May 2023, stable compared with the previous month. In the euro area, the unemployment rate for women was 6.8%, down from 6.9% in April 2023. The unemployment rate for men was 6.2%, stable compared with the previous month.
