Written question – Low employment rates in rural and peripheral European regions and inadequate labour market data from NUTS 2 regions – E-004166/2025

Question for written answer  E-004166/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Marieke Ehlers (PfE), Rachel Blom (PfE)

According to recent figures from the Commission, more than half of European NUTS 2 regions have not met the 78 % employment rate target. Furthermore, data appears to be unavailable for 130 regions, which account for over 46 % of the total[1].

• 1.How can the high number of unemployed people in the EU, particularly in rural and peripheral regions, be reconciled with the Commission’s assertion that Europe needs more labour migration from outside the EU?
• 2.Does the Commission have data showing what percentage of the working population is employed in the public, private or subsidised sectors?
• 3.How will the Commission ensure that Member States improve their reporting on employment rates in NUTS 2 regions?

Submitted: 22.10.2025

• [1] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20251013-3.