Unemployment rate in Finland remains highest in Europe

The unemployment rate in Finland was 10.3 percent in August this year, which was highest among the European countries, according to Eurostat.

The Eurostat data released on Thursday showed that unemployment rate in Spain was second highest with 10 percent, followed by Sweden (8.7%), France (8.2%), Estonia (8%) and Greece (7.4%).

The unemployment rate was lowest in Czechia in August among the European countries with 3.2 percent followed by Poland, Malta and Slovenia with 3.4% each and Bulgaria (3.5%).

In August 2026, the euro area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 6.4%, stable compared with July 2026 and up from 6.3% in August 2025.

The EU unemployment rate was 6.1% in August 2026, also stable compared with July 2026 and up from 6.0% in August 2025.

Eurostat estimated that 13.600 million persons in the EU, of whom 11.357 million in the euro area, were unemployed in August 2026.

Compared with July 2026, unemployment increased by 12 thousand in the EU and by 26 thousand in the euro area.

Compared with August 2025, unemployment increased by 348 thousand in the EU and by 267 thousand in the euro area.

In July, the unemployment rate in Finland was 10.5 percent, which was also highest among the European countries.