In 2025, the employment rate among citizens of European Union countries aged 20 to 64 reached 76.1%. This is a record figure since statistics began in 2009, meaning that over 197.7 million Europeans are officially employed.
This is reported by Finway
Leaders and Laggards in the European Labor Market
According to the latest data from the EU statistical office, the labor market situation varies significantly by region. The highest employment rates were recorded in Malta (83.6%), the Netherlands (83.4%), and the Czech Republic (82.9%). In Southern and Eastern European countries, the figures are more modest: in Italy, 67.6% of the population is employed, in Romania — 69.0%, and in Greece — 71.0%.
Gender Imbalance in Employment
Despite overall economic growth, the EU labor market remains uneven in terms of gender balance. The average employment rate among men is 80.9%, while among women it is 71.3%. The difference between these figures is 9.6%. The largest gender gap is observed in Italy (19.1%), Romania (18.7%), and Greece (17.4%).
“In contrast, Lithuania has become the only country in the entire European Union where the employment rate of women (80.3%) officially exceeds that of men. Estonia (with a gap of only 0.5%) and Finland (1.3%) are also very close to achieving full gender parity.”
At the same time, Ukraine is preparing to launch a pilot employment program for people aged 50 and over called “Experience Matters.” Organizers plan to engage at least 500 employers and provide employment for no fewer than 1,300 individuals, with plans for further expansion of the program.
It is worth noting that for Ukrainian businesses, the high turnover rate remains a pressing issue, driven by low wage levels.