The Euro Area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down to an all-time low of 6.1% in January 2026 from 6.2% in the prior month, while analysts had expected it at 6.2%. The number of unemployed dropped by 184,000 from the prior month to 10.770 million. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate, reflecting those under 25 seeking employment, fell to 14.8% in January from 15% previously. Among the bloc’s largest economies, Germany (4%) and the Netherlands (4%) recorded the lowest jobless rates, while Spain (9.8%), France (7.7%), and Italy (5.1%) saw the highest. A year ago, the jobless rate was slightly higher at 6.3%. In the broader European Union, the jobless rate eased to 5.8% from 5.9% in December.
