Brussels: Over 3 million unemployed individuals in the European Union transitioned into employment between the first and second quarters of 2026, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. This figure represents 23.2% of all unemployed individuals aged 15-74 in the first quarter of 2026.
During this same period, 7.0 million individuals, accounting for 52.8%, remained unemployed, while 3.2 million, or 24.0%, moved out of the labor force. The data highlights the dynamic nature of the EU labor market during this period.
According to Emirates News Agency, of those in employment during the first quarter of 2026, 2.5 million, or 1.2%, transitioned to unemployment in the second quarter. Additionally, 4.8 million individuals, representing 2.3%, moved out of the labor force.
The report also noted that of those classified as out of the labor force in the first quarter, 4.2 million, or 3.7%, entered employment by the second quarter, while 3.9 million, or 3.4%, became unemployed. Furthermore, the employment rate for individuals aged 20-64 in the EU increased slightly to 76.4% in the second quarter, up from 76.3% in the first quarter of 2026.