Iceland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.9% in December 2024, the highest in three months, up from 2.7% in the preceding month. The number of registered unemployed increased by 2,800 from a month earlier to 9,200. In the meantime, the youth unemployment rate, which measures job-seekers between 16 and 24 years old, surged to 13% from 3.5% in the previous period. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up to 78.2% from 77.5% in November, with the number of employed individuals increasing by 500 to 226,900. The labor force participation rate also increased to 81.4% from 79.6% in November. source: Statistics Iceland

Unemployment Rate in Iceland increased to 3.90 percent in December from 2.70 percent in November of 2024. Unemployment Rate in Iceland averaged 2.80 percent from 1970 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 9.70 percent in April of 2011 and a record low of 0.10 percent in August of 1972. This page provides the latest reported value for - Iceland Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Iceland Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on January of 2025.

Unemployment Rate in Iceland increased to 3.90 percent in December from 2.70 percent in November of 2024. Unemployment Rate in Iceland is expected to be 4.80 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Iceland Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 4.20 percent in 2026, according to our econometric models.




Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2024-12-04 09:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Oct 3.3% 4.8% 5.2%
2025-01-22 09:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Dec 3.9% 2.7% 3.3%
2025-02-26 09:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Jan 3.9%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 226900.00 226400.00 Dec 2024
Employment Rate 78.20 77.50 percent Dec 2024
Job Vacancies 78.00 176.00 Dec 2024
Job Vacancy Rate 2.40 3.20 percent Sep 2024
Labor Force Participation Rate 81.40 79.60 percent Dec 2024
Unemployed Persons 9200.00 6400.00 Dec 2024
Unemployment Rate 3.90 2.70 percent Dec 2024
Real Wage Growth 1.60 1.30 percent Dec 2024
Wages 868000.00 809000.00 ISK/Month Dec 2023
Youth Unemployment Rate 13.00 3.50 percent Dec 2024

Iceland Unemployment Rate
In Iceland, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
3.90 2.70 9.70 0.10 1970 - 2024 percent Monthly
SA


News Stream
Iceland Jobless Rate Higher at 3.9% in December
Iceland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 3.9% in December 2024, the highest in three months, up from 2.7% in the preceding month. The number of registered unemployed increased by 2,800 from a month earlier to 9,200. In the meantime, the youth unemployment rate, which measures job-seekers between 16 and 24 years old, surged to 13% from 3.5% in the previous period. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up to 78.2% from 77.5% in November, with the number of employed individuals increasing by 500 to 226,900. The labor force participation rate also increased to 81.4% from 79.6% in November.
2025-01-22
Iceland Unemployment Rate Drops to 3.3% in October
Iceland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.3% in October 2024, from a downwardly revised and almost three-year high of 4.8% in the previous month. The number of registered unemployed decreased by 3,700 from a month earlier to 7,900. Meanwhile, the employment rate edged up to 79.4% from 79.1, with the number of employed individuals increasing by 1,200 to 231,600. The labor force participation rate went down to 82.1% from 83.1 in September. Moreover, the youth unemployment rate, which measures job-seekers between 16 and 24 years old, fell to 12.7% from 13.2% in the preceding period.
2024-12-04
Iceland Unemployment Rate Highest in Almost 3 Years
Iceland's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate surged to 5.2% in September 2024, from an upwardly revised 2.6% in the previous month, marking the highest reading since October 2021. The number of registered unemployed more than doubled from a month earlier to 12,700. Meanwhile, the employment rate fell to 79.2% from 81.5%, with the number of employed individuals decreasing by 6,800 to 230,600. The labor force participation rate was almost unchanged at 83.5% in September. Moreover, the youth unemployment rate, which measures job-seekers between 16 and 24 years old, rose significantly to 13% from 5.3% in the previous month.
2024-10-23