In recent months, the Eurostat statistical office has been monitoring the unemployment rate in the European Union. In April, the unemployment rate in the EU remained stable at 6%. In the Czech Republic, however, there was a gradual decline, going from 2.9% in March to 2.7% in April.
Eurostat bases its calculations on the standard definition of unemployment generally used by the International Labor Organization (ILO). However, the ILO uses a different methodology than the Labor Office of the Czech Republic, according to which unemployment was higher in April. Eurostat includes among the unemployed those who have actively looked for work in the last four weeks and are able to start working in the next two weeks. For the Czech Republic, Eurostat uses data from the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ), which differ from that of the Labor Office. According to the ČSÚ, the unemployment rate in the Czech Republic fell from 3.9% in March to 3.7% in April. The ČSÚ bases its unemployment rate on a sample survey of the workforce, while the Labor Office relies on the number of registered candidates.
Today’s Eurostat data also shows that the unemployment rate in the Eurozone fell from 6.5% in March to 6.4% in April. Eurostat estimated that there were 13.149 million people without work in the EU in March, of which 10.998 million were in the eurozone. Compared to March, the number of unemployed in the EU decreased by 103,000 and in the Eurozone by 100,000.
After the Czech Republic, Poland recorded the second lowest unemployment rate in the EU in April at 3%. In contrast, the highest unemployment rates were recorded in Spain, with 11.7%, and Greece, with 10.8%.
| January | February | March | April | |
| Eurozone | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 6.4 |
| EU | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Belgium | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.8 |
| Bulgaria | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Czechia | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.7 |
| Denmark | 6.0 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.8 |
| Germany | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3,2 |
| Estonia | 7.6 | 7,8 | 7,8 | 7,8 |
| Ireland | 4,5 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.4 |
| Greece | 11.3 | 11.6 | 10.8 | 10.8 |
| Spain | 11.9 | 11.8 | 11.7 | 11.7 |
| France | 7.5 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.3 |
| Croatia | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Italy | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.1 | 6.9 |
| Cyprus | 5.9 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 4.4 |
| Latvia | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 6.8 |
| Lithuania | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Luxembourg | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 |
| Hungary | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
| Malta | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.1 |
| Netherlands | 3.6 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.7 |
| Austria | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 4.7 |
| Poland | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.0 |
| Portugal | 6.5 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.3 |
| Romania | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| Slovenia | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 |
| Slovakia | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 |
| Finland | 7.7 | 7,8 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Sweden | 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.4 |
Youth unemployment
In April 2024, the number of unemployed young people (under 25 years) in the European Union amounted to 2,830 million, of which 2,272 million were in the euro area. The youth unemployment rate in April 2024 was 14.4% in the EU, down from 14.7% in March 2024, and 14.1% in the eurozone, down from 14.3% in the month previous. Comparing data from April 2024 to April 2023, youth unemployment decreased by 141,000 in the EU and by 54,000 in the euro area. Compared to March 2024, youth unemployment fell by 44,000 in the EU and by 19,000 in the euro area.
Unemployment by sex
In April 2024, the female unemployment rate in the European Union was 6.3%, down from 6.4% in March 2024. The male unemployment rate stood at 5.7%, remaining stable compared to the previous month. In the euro area, the female unemployment rate was 6.7%, down from 6.9% in March 2024, while the male unemployment rate was 6.1%, stable compared to the previous month.
Eurostat data from April 2024 indicates a slight recovery in the European labor market, with significant improvements in some countries. The reduction in youth and female unemployment suggests growing attention towards these groups. However, disparities persist between different nations, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support the most affected areas.
Sources: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-euro-indicators/w/3-30052024-ap https://www.ceskenoviny.cz/zpravy/2525496
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Graphic source: https://storyset.com/
