Iceland Jobless Rate Climbs to 2021-Highs at 5.7%

Iceland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 7.1% in February 2026, the highest level in three months, from a downwardly revised 6.8% in January. The number of unemployed persons increased by 0.9 thousand month-on-month to 17.0 thousand, of which 9.4 thousand were men and 7.6 thousand were women. The youth unemployment rate, which measures job-seekers between 16 to 24 years old, went up to 17.0% from 16.6%, reaching its highest level since April 2021. Meanwhile, the employment rate dropped to an over four-and-a-half-year low of 75.0% from 75.8% in January, with the number of employed individuals falling by 0.6 thousand to 221.1 thousand. The labor force participation rate fell to 80.8% from 81.4%. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate inched up to 7.9% in February from 7.5% in the previous month, marking the highest level since May 2021.

Iceland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose by 7.3% in January 2026, following 4.5% in the previous month, marking the highest level since April 2021. The number of unemployed persons increased by 6,900 from a month ago to 17,400. By gender, the unemployment rate for men jumped 7.1% from 4.5%, while the rate for women surged to 7.4% from 4.6%. The youth unemployment rate, which measures job-seekers between 16 to 24 years old, grew sharply to 16.6% from 11.2% in December 2025. Meanwhile, the employment rate dropped to 75.7% from 76.8%, with the number of employed persons decreased by 400 to 222,500. The labor force participation rate rose 81.6%, compared with 80.5% in the prior month. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate climbed to 8.3% in January from 4.2% in December 2025.

Iceland’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell sharply to 4.5% in December 2025, down from 6.9% in November. While unemployment typically declines in December due to seasonal factors, the rate remained above the 3.9% recorded in the same month a year earlier. The number of unemployed persons declined by 5,900 over the month, bringing the total to 10,500. Unemployment decreased across both genders. The rate for men dropped to 4.5% from 6.1%, while female unemployment declined sharply to 4.4% from 7.7%. The youth unemployment rate, which tracks job-seekers aged 14 to 26, also improved, falling to 10.8% from 13.5% in the previous month. The employment rate increased to 76.9% from 75.6%, corresponding to an increase of 1,600, with 223,400 employed individuals. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate fell to 80.5% from 81.2%. On a non-seasonally adjusted basis, the unemployment rate also showed strong improvement, decreasing to 4.2% in December from 6.5% in November.