Eurostat: employment in Europe in Q1 2026
The EU labor market in the first quarter of 2026. Poland recorded an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous quarter.
Increase in the employment rate and decrease in the labor market slack in the first quarter of 2026
Main findings for the entire European Union (EU):
Employment rate: Among people aged 20–64, it reached 76.3%, representing a minimal increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 (76.2%).
Labor market slack: Comprising unemployed individuals and those who need employment but do not meet all active job search criteria, fell to 10.9% of the extended labor force (down from 11.0% in late 2025).
Variations across countries: Employment increased in 11 EU countries (mostly in Italy, Belgium, Cyprus, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Sweden), remained stable in 6, and decreased in 10 member states (most notably in Latvia and Ireland). In Poland, the employment rate increased by 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous quarter.
