Unemployment in Iceland stood at 6.5% in November, according to the latest labour market survey from Statistics Iceland, marking a sharp increase compared with the same period last year.
The figure represents a rise of 4.3 percentage points year-on-year.
Around 15,200 people were unemployed in November, with joblessness higher among women than men. Unemployment among women was measured at 7%, while the rate for men stood at 6.1%.
Survey Shows Discrepancy 
Worker sawing the pavement next to Tjörnin, the ReykjavÃk City Pond. Photo: Golli.
As reported by RÚV, the survey-based figure is notably higher than the unemployment rate recorded by the Directorate of Labour, which reported unemployment at 4.3% for the same month.
The discrepancy stems from differences in how unemployment is measured. Statistics Iceland’s labour market survey is based on individuals’ own assessment of their employment status, capturing a broader picture of joblessness across the population.
This approach may include people who are not registered as unemployed, as well as those who are not eligible for, or have not applied for, unemployment benefits.
By contrast, the Directorate of Labour’s figures only reflect individuals who are formally registered with the agency. As a result, its data tends to produce lower headline unemployment rates than those derived from survey-based measurements.
Statistics Iceland’s figures suggest that labour market pressures remain elevated as the year draws to a close, particularly when compared with last year.