The long-term unemployment rate in European Union countries has reached a record low of just 1.9%. This data was released by Eurostat, noting that this result is the lowest since observations began.
This is reported by Finway
Leaders and Laggards Among EU Countries by Long-Term Unemployment Rate
According to statistics, the fewest individuals seeking work for over a year are recorded in the Netherlands — only 0.5% of the working-age population. Nearly as low are the figures for Malta (0.7%), as well as the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Poland — each at 0.8%.
In contrast, the situation in Southern Europe is more complex. In Greece, the long-term unemployment rate reaches 5.4%, the highest figure among EU countries. Following are Spain (3.8%) and Slovakia (3.5%). At the same time, all three countries have shown a decrease in this indicator compared to last year. In Greece, long-term unemployment decreased by 0.8%, in Spain by 0.5%, and in Slovakia by 0.2%.
Unemployment Trends Among Different Age Groups
The overall unemployment rate in the EU has also decreased and currently stands at less than 5.9%, which is 0.2% lower than in 2023. Notably, the unemployment rate is decreasing among most age categories, except for the youth. Among individuals aged 15 to 24, the unemployment rate has reached 14.9%, which is 0.4% higher than last year.
“The long-term unemployment rate in EU countries is 1.9%, according to the latest data from Eurostat. This is the lowest figure in the history of observations.”
In comparison to the situation in Ukraine, labor market activity remains lower than before the full-scale war began. Although citizens have become more active in job searching, the volume of new resumes is about 80% of the average figures from 2021. Additionally, there is a significant gender disparity among the unemployed in Ukraine: 82% are women. This is explained, in part, by mobilization and the conditions of martial law.