The Euro Area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up to 6.2% in February 2026 from the all-time low of 6.1% in January, against market expectations that it would stay at 6.1%. The number of unemployed rose by 93,000 from the prior month to 10.919 million. Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate, reflecting those under 25 seeking employment, was at 14.9% in February, unchanged from the prior month. Among the major economies in the bloc, Spain (9.8%), France (7.8%), and Italy (5.3%) recorded the highest rates, whereas Germany (4%) and the Netherlands (4.1%) reported the lowest. A year ago, the jobless rate was slightly higher at 6.3%. In the broader European Union, the jobless rate stood at 5.9% for the third consecutive month.