As specified by the EU statistical office Eurostat, economists had expected the figure to remain at 6.2 percent, corresponding to 10.77 million people out of work across the bloc.
Excluding Bulgaria, the newest member of the currency union, the situation also improved in 20 eurozone members, although the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.2%.
The total number of unemployed is falling
This indicates a recovery in the labor market, Euronews states. In the European Union, the unemployment rate fell to 5.8%, down from 5.9% in December and 6% in January 2025. In monthly terms, the number of unemployed decreased by 185 thousand – in the EU and 184 thousand – in the euro area.
Among the largest economies of the bloc, the lowest unemployment rates – 4% each – are recorded in Germany and the Netherlands. And Spain (9.8%), France (7.7%) and Italy (5.1%) remain among the countries with the highest unemployment rates.
Youth unemployment has also declined slightly: in the EU, its level fell from 15.2% to 15.1%, and in the eurozone – from 15% to 14.8%.
The latest economic indicators show that the EU economy has proved to be more resilient than expected. According to Eurostat’s preliminary estimates, in 2025, GDP growth in the eurozone was 1.5% and for the EU as a whole 1.6%, supported by the performance of key sectors.
Unemployment in the UK has reached the highest level since the pandemic
In contrast, the UK’s unemployment rate rose to 5.2%, hitting a five-year high and surpassing Italy’s 5.1%.
Danny Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, called it an unexpected outcome from a long-term planning perspective: “Businesses are clearly signaling that government policies that raise labor costs have forced companies to put the brakes on hiring plans and may have accelerated changes that will have a long-term impact on job creation.”
Analysts also point to the potential impact of artificial intelligence on youth employment. Hewson adds: “Integrating AI into companies to improve productivity is a step in the right direction, but for young people who already struggle to get their first job experience, AI could reduce the number of entry-level jobs.”
ECB: AI is not yet displacing humans from jobs in Europe
Artificial intelligence has not caused massive job losses in Europe, the European Central Bank said in a blog post published Wednesday. According to the ECB, companies actively using AI were 4% more likely to hire employees than those not using it; many increased staffing levels to implement AI tools and increase output.
While the long-term implications remain unclear, the ECB estimates that the impact of AI on employment is neutral or slightly positive for the time being.
