The job vacancy rate across the euro area showed a modest uptick at the end of 2025, signaling pockets of resilience in the labor market even as overall demand for workers

softened compared to the previous year.

According to newly released data from Eurostat, the eurozone’s job vacancy rate rose to 2.2% in the fourth quarter of 2025, up slightly from 2.1% in the third quarter. However, the figure remains below the 2.5% recorded during the same period in 2024, reflecting a broader cooling trend.

Across the wider European Union, the vacancy rate stood at 2.0% in the final quarter of 2025. This marks no change from the previous quarter but a decline from 2.3% a year earlier.

Sector differences remain pronounced

Labor demand varied notably between sectors. In the euro area, job vacancies were more prevalent in services (2.4%) than in industry and construction (2.1%). A similar pattern was seen across the EU, where services recorded a 2.2% vacancy rate compared to 1.9% in industry and construction.

Wide disparities among Member States

The data highlights significant differences across countries. The highest job vacancy rates were observed in the Netherlands (3.9%), Belgium (3.5%), and Malta (3.3%). Germany, Cyprus, and Austria followed, each reporting rates of 2.8%.

At the other end of the spectrum, Romania (0.6%), Poland (0.7%), and Bulgaria (0.8%) recorded the lowest levels of job vacancies. Spain and Finland also remained below 1%, each at 0.9%.

Mixed trends across Europe

Compared with the fourth quarter of 2024, job vacancy rates increased in just six EU countries, remained unchanged in seven, and declined in fourteen—pointing to uneven labor market dynamics across the bloc.

Lithuania and Malta saw the strongest increases, while Austria and Belgium recorded the steepest declines. Other notable drops were seen in Finland, Germany, and Latvia.

Where demand for workers is strongest

Looking at specific industries, the highest demand for labor was concentrated in administrative and support services—particularly sectors such as temporary employment agencies. Construction also remained a key driver of job openings, followed by professional and technical services, hospitality, and information and communication.

These trends suggest that while hiring demand has cooled overall, certain sectors continue to face persistent labor shortages. Photo by Phil Whitehouse, Wikimedia commons.