In December 2025, seasonally adjusted, 4.0 percent of the labor force was unemployed. In mid-2025, this was 3.8 percent and in December 2024 it was 3.7 percent. This represents a stronger increase in unemployment than during 2023 and 2024. Especially young people are more often unemployed. Unemployment also increased among 25- to 75-year-olds.
Unemployment among 15- to 25-year-olds increased mainly in the second half of the year. In June 2025, it was 8.7 percent, as high as in December 2024. Among young women, the increase during the year was the largest: the unemployment rate rose to 9.1. Besides young people, unemployment also increased relatively strongly among men aged 25 to 45 and men aged 45 to 75.
Although unemployment has increased, at 4.0 percent of the labor force it remains one of the lowest within the European Union. In November 2025, the most recent month for which figures for all countries are available, unemployment in the European Union averaged 6.0 percent. Unemployment was highest in Finland and Spain. The increase in unemployment was greater in the Netherlands than the EU average. In December 2024, the unemployment rate in the European Union was 5.9.
From local to national, everything in one place. That's all very nice and handy, but our coffee supply is running low.