The euro area's job vacancy rate rose slightly to 2.3% in the first quarter of 2026, signalling stable labour demand despite remaining below levels recorded a year earlier,
according to new data released by Eurostat.
The rate increased from 2.2% in the final quarter of 2025 but was down from 2.4% in the first quarter of last year. Across the European Union, the job vacancy rate held steady at 2.1% compared with the previous quarter, while easing from 2.2% a year earlier.
Services continued to drive recruitment activity across the bloc. In the euro area, vacancies stood at 2.4% in services, compared with 2.0% in industry and construction. Across the EU, the corresponding rates were 2.3% and 1.8%, respectively.
Among member states, the Netherlands recorded the highest job vacancy rate at 4.0%, followed by Belgium at 3.4%, Malta at 3.3% and Austria at 3.1%. At the other end of the scale, Romania posted the lowest rate at 0.6%, while Poland registered 0.8%. Bulgaria, Spain and Slovakia each reported vacancy rates of 0.9%.
Compared with the same period in 2025, job vacancy rates increased in only three member states. Malta recorded the strongest rise, up 0.4 percentage points, while Portugal and Slovenia both saw increases of 0.2 percentage points.
By contrast, vacancy rates declined in 16 countries. Belgium experienced the sharpest fall, down 0.7 percentage points, followed by Austria (-0.5 percentage points). Denmark and Italy each recorded declines of 0.4 percentage points, while France saw a decrease of 0.3 percentage points.
Sectoral data showed the strongest demand for workers in administrative and support service activities, including temporary employment agencies, where vacancy rates reached 3.2% in the euro area and 3.1% across the EU. Accommodation and food services matched the euro area rate at 3.2%, while construction recorded 3.1%.
Technology-related activities also remained a significant source of job openings. Telecommunications, computer programming, consulting and other information services posted vacancy rates of 2.8% in the euro area and 2.6% in the EU. Professional, scientific and technical activities followed with rates of 2.5% and 2.4%, respectively.
The latest figures suggest that while labour demand across Europe remains resilient, recruitment activity has generally softened compared with a year ago, reflecting a gradual cooling of the region's labour market. Photo by Phil Whitehouse, Wikimedia commons.