The Economics and Statistics Division maintains archives of previous publications for accountability purposes, but makes no updates to keep these documents current with the latest data revisions from Statistics Canada. As a result, information in older documents may not be accurate. Please exercise caution when referring to older documents. For the latest information and historical data, please contact the individual listed to the right.
<--- Return to Archive
For additional information relating to this article, please contact:
July 30, 2020EU AND EURO AREA UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, JUNE 2020 
Eurostat notes that COVID-19 containment measures were being phased out in June. The unemployment rate in the Euro Area was 7.8 per cent in June, up from 7.7 per cent in May 2020. The unemployment rate in the Euro Area was 7.5 per cent in June 2019.
For the broader European Union (27 countries), the unemployment rate was at 7.1 per cent in June 2020, up from 7.0 per cent in May 2020. The European Union's unemployment rate was 6.6 per cent in June 2019 (for the 27 current members of the EU).
Among major European economies, the unemployment rate was highest in Spain (15.6 per cent) and Greece (15.5 per cent in Apr). Unemployment rates were lowest in Czechia (2.6 per cent) and Poland (3.0 per cent).
Estimates of unemployment rates from EuroStat are based on standard definitions from the International Labour Organization. Those who are unemployed are without a job, have been actively seeking work and area available to start work. During the COVID-19 outbreak, many of those who claimed unemployment benefits were no longer actively looking for work. Those who are no longer economically active in the labour force would not add to the unemployment rate measured under this standard. Data on changes in the number of people economically active in the European Union labour force in Q2 2020 will be released on August 14.
Source: Eurostat. Unemployment News Release, time series data for unemployment rates, latest unemployment rates by member country
Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0287-01 Labour force characteristics, monthly, seasonally adjusted and trend-cycle
<--- Return to Archive
