The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.5% in November 2015, down from 10.6% in October 2015, and from 11.5% in November 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since October 2011.

According to the figures from Eurostat today, Malta has the third lowest unemployment rate in the EU at 5.1%, behind Germany and the Czech Republic with 4.5% and 4.6% respectively.

The EU28 unemployment rate was 9.1% in November 2015, down from 9.2% in October 2015, and from 10.0% in November 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since July 2009.

Eurostat estimates that 22.159 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 16.924 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in November 2015. Compared with October 2015, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 179 000 in the EU28 and by 130 000 in the euro area. Compared with November 2014, unemployment fell by 2.146 million in the EU28 and by 1.573 million in the euro area.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in November 2015 were recorded in Germany (4.5%), the Czech Republic (4.6%) and Malta (5.1%), and the highest in Greece (24.6% in September 2015) and Spain (21.4%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate in November 2015 fell in twenty-five Member States, remained stable in Romania and increased in Austria (from 5.6% to 5.8%) and Finland (from 9.0% to 9.4%). The largest decreases were registered in Spain (from 23.7% to 21.4%), Bulgaria (from 10.6% to 8.8%) and Italy (from 13.1% to 11.3%). In Malta it went from 6.0% in 2014 to 5.1% in 2015.

In November 2015, the unemployment rate in the United States was 5.0%, stable compared to October 2015 and down from 5.8% in November 2014.

In November 2015, 4.553 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 3.167 million were in the euro area. Compared with November 2014, youth unemployment decreased by 412 000 in the EU28 and by 163 000 in the euro area.

In November 2015, the youth unemployment rate was 20.0% in the EU28 and 22.5% in the euro area, compared with 21.5% and 23.2% respectively in November 2014. In November 2015, the lowest rates were observed in Germany (7.0%), Denmark (9.9%) and Austria (10.9%), and the highest in Greece (49.5% in September 2015), Spain (47.5%), Croatia (45.1% in the third quarter 2015) and Italy (38.1%). Malta was below the EU level with a figure of 12.7%.

These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

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