Data from Eurostat show that the euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.3% in February 2015, down from 11.4% in January 2015, and from 11.8% in February 2014, Malta stood at 5.9%, down slightly from 6.0% last year.

This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since May 2012. The EU28 unemployment rate was 9.8% in February 2015, down from 9.9% in January 2015 and from 10.5% in February 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since September 2011.

Eurostat estimates that 23.887 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 18.204 million in the euro area, were unemployed in February 2015. Compared with January 2015, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 91 000 in the EU28 and by 49 000 in the euro area. Compared with February 2014, unemployment fell by 1.547 million in the EU28 and by 643 000 in the euro area.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in February 2015 were recorded in Germany (4.8%) and Austria (5.3%), and the highest in Greece (26.0% in December 2014) and Spain (23.2%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate in February 2015 fell in twenty-two Member States and increased in six Member States. In Malta youth unemployment in February stood at 11.8%, down from 13.5% last year.

The largest decreases were registered in Estonia (8.4% to 6.2% between January 2014 and January 2015), Ireland (12.1% to 9.9%) and Bulgaria (12.3% to 10.2%). The largest increases were registered in Croatia (17.3% to 18.5%), Cyprus (15.6% to 16.3%) and Finland (8.4% to 9.1%).

In February 2015, the unemployment rate in the United States was 5.5%, down from 5.7% in January 2015 and down from 6.7% in February 2014.

In February 2015, 4.850 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 3.245 million were in the euro area. Compared with February 2014, youth unemployment decreased by 494 000 in the EU28 and by 230 000 in the euro area.

In February 2015, the youth unemployment rate was 21.1% in the EU28 and 22.9% in the euro area, compared with 22.9% and 24.0% respectively in February 2014.

In February 2015, the lowest rates were observed in Germany (7.2%), Austria (9.0%) and Denmark (10.2%), and the highest in Greece (51.2% in December 2014), Spain (50.7%), Croatia (46.4% in the fourth quarter 2014) and Italy (42.6%).

Permalink: Euro area unemployment rate at 11.3% EU28 at 9.8%, Malta at 5.9%