Slovakia’s labor market showed signs of softening at the start of the year, as the unemployment rate climbed to 5.7% in January 2026, up from 5.3% in December 2025. The latest figure, updated on 20 February 2026, marks a reversal from the previous month’s lower level and suggests emerging pressure in the job market.
The 0.4 percentage point increase between December and January indicates that more people entered unemployment at the turn of the year, a period often affected by seasonal factors and contract adjustments. While no detailed breakdown was provided, the move higher from December’s 5.3% level signals that policymakers and businesses will be watching upcoming data closely to see whether this rise is temporary or the start of a more persistent trend in Slovakia’s employment conditions.
