Youth Unemployment Trends Across Europe

Using data from Eurostat, this infographic illustrates the evolution of youth unemployment (ages 15–24) across 35 European countries from 2015 to 2024. Nearly a decade ago, several countries faced alarmingly high rates: Greece (50.3%), Spain (48.3%), and North Macedonia (47.3%) ranked among the top three.

While youth unemployment has declined in many countries since then, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact across the continent. In 2024, youth unemployment remains a major concern, with Spain (26.5%), Sweden (24.3%), and Romania (23.9%) reporting some of the highest rates. On the other end of the spectrum, the Netherlands (8.7%), Switzerland (8.2%), and Germany (6.6%) have the lowest rates among this age group.

Despite some progress, youth unemployment continues to be the highest across all age groups in Europe, highlighting the need for sustained policy efforts and opportunities tailored to young people entering the workforce.