The unemployment rate across OECD countries held steady at 4.
9% in March 2025, according to the latest data released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
This marks the 36th consecutive month that the unemployment rate has remained at or below 5%, continuing a trend that began in April 2022.
The data shows a largely unchanged labor market across most OECD member nations.
Unemployment rates remained stable in 23 countries, rose in five, and declined in four. Among the notable performers, Turkey recorded a historic low unemployment rate of 7.
9%—its lowest since January 2005.
The European Union and euro area also maintained strong labor market performance, with unemployment rates remaining at their record lows of 5.8% and 6.2% respectively for the sixth month in a row.
These figures suggest sustained economic resilience across the continent, despite broader global uncertainties.
The total number of unemployed individuals across the OECD rose slightly to 34.2 million in March. While this marks a minor uptick, it does not signal a reversal of the overall positive employment trend seen in recent years.
Economists view the continued stability in the OECD unemployment rate as a sign of steady labor market conditions, supported by economic growth and post-pandemic recovery efforts. However, analysts also caution that future shifts in global demand, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical tensions could impact employment rates in the coming months.
