Europe youth unemployment rises to 15% in 2025

A report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) indicates deteriorating labor market conditions for young people across Northern, Southern, and Western Europe. Unemployment for those under 25 in this region rose to 15% in 2025, up from 14.2% in 2023, marking one of the fastest declines in the ability of economies to absorb young talent globally.

While Eastern Europe saw youth unemployment fall to 11.1%, the region experienced an increase in the number of young people who are neither working nor in education or training (NEETs). The ILO noted that the decline in job absorption affects both secondary and tertiary graduates.

In Greece, although the country was among a small group that reduced youth unemployment between 2023 and 2025, the rate remains at 20% for 2025, which is above the European average. Data from Eurostat shows significant volatility in Greek youth unemployment, which rose from 15.9% in May 2026 to 19.5% in June.