The European Union’s labour market reached a new milestone in 2025, with employment levels climbing to their highest point in over a decade. According to newly released data
from Eurostat, 76.1% of people aged 20 to 64 were employed, representing approximately 197.7 million individuals. This marks a steady increase of 0.3 percentage points from 2024 and 0.8 points compared to 2023, signaling continued resilience in the EU job market.
The rise reflects broader economic recovery trends, supported by strong service-sector growth, increased labour mobility, and policy efforts aimed at boosting workforce participation. The EU has also been pushing toward its long-term employment target of 78% by 2030, and current figures suggest it is gradually closing that gap.
Top and bottom performers across Europe
Employment rates varied significantly between member states. Malta (83.6%), the Netherlands (83.4%), and Czechia (82.9%) led the bloc with the highest shares of employed individuals. These countries benefit from strong labour demand, flexible work policies, and high participation rates.
At the other end of the spectrum, Italy (67.6%), Romania (69.0%), and Greece (71.0%) recorded the lowest employment levels. Structural challenges such as regional disparities, lower female workforce participation, and slower economic growth continue to weigh on their labour markets.
Gender divide remains a key issue
Despite overall progress, gender disparities in employment remain a persistent concern. Across the EU, men continue to have higher employment rates than women in nearly all countries, with Lithuania being the only exception.
In 2025, the employment rate for men stood at 80.9%, compared to 71.3% for women. The highest male employment rates were recorded in Malta (89.1%), Czechia (88.2%), and the Netherlands (87.2%). Meanwhile, Belgium, Croatia, and Finland reported the lowest rates among men.
For women, Estonia (81.4%), Lithuania (80.3%), and Sweden (79.8%) led the rankings, reflecting stronger gender equality policies and childcare support systems. In contrast, Italy (58.0%), Romania (59.5%), and Greece (62.3%) lagged behind, highlighting ongoing barriers to female workforce participation.
The overall gender employment gap across the EU stood at 9.6 percentage points. The widest disparities were seen in Italy, Romania, and Greece, while countries such as Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, and Latvia reported minimal differences between male and female employment rates.
Broader EU employment trends
The latest figures underscore a gradual but consistent strengthening of the EU labour market. Factors such as digital transformation, green transition jobs, and increased cross-border employment opportunities are reshaping workforce dynamics. However, challenges remain, including skills shortages, ageing populations, and the need for more inclusive labour policies.
As the EU continues to pursue sustainable economic growth, closing gender gaps and improving employment rates in lower-performing countries will be critical to maintaining momentum. Photo by Phil Whitehouse, Wikimedia commons.