The paradox of the labour market in Luxembourg

At the end of June 2026, the unemployment rate in Luxembourg stood at 6.4 per cent. The Employment Development Agency (ADEM) has noted a paradoxical situation: the number of unemployed citizens is rising at the same time as the number of available jobs is increasing. By the end of the month, 19,619 jobseekers were officially registered with the agency, which is 1,733 people, or 9.7 per cent, higher than the figures for the same period last year.

At the same time, current trends have revealed an unusual pattern in the structure of employment. The most significant year-on-year increase in the number of unemployed was recorded precisely among highly qualified professionals, at 19.1 per cent. Furthermore, the negative trend affects all age groups, although the most pronounced increase, at 12.8 per cent, is observed among people aged between 30 and 44. Broken down by occupation, the largest number of jobseekers are looking for work in secretarial and administrative roles, information technology, accountancy and management, as well as in the banking sector.

Despite the rise in the number of unemployed people, businesses continue to actively seek new staff, leading to a surplus of vacancies in other sectors. In June 2026, employers advertised 3,167 new vacancies, which is 7.2 per cent more than in June 2025. The total number of available jobs stood at 7,081 by the end of the month, representing a year-on-year increase of 3.1%. Against this backdrop, the highest demand from companies is observed in the fields of construction design, industrial cleaning, social and social-educational work, as well as in the field of paramedical services.