Euro area unemployment at 7.5% (Spain at 14.2%)

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5% in September 2019, stable compared with August 2019 and down from 8.0% in September 2018.

This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since July 2008, according to the figures published today (31 October) by Eurostat.

The EU28 unemployment rate was 6.3% in September 2019, stable compared with August 2019 and down from 6.7% in September 2018. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since the start of the EU monthly unemployment series in January 2000.

Comparison

Eurostat estimates that 15.635 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 12.335 million in the euro area, were unemployed in September 2019.

Compared with August 2019, the number of persons unemployed increased by 48 000 in the EU28 and by 33 000 in the euro area. Compared with September 2018, unemployment fell by 889 000 in the EU28 and by 738 000 in the euro area.

Member States Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in September 2019 were recorded in Czechia (2.1%) and Germany (3.1%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (16.9% in July 2019) and Spain (14.2%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in 22 Member States, remained stable in Belgium, Portugal and Romania while it increased in Lithuania (from 6.3% to 6.5%), Denmark (from 5.0% to 5.3%), and Sweden (from 6.3% to 7.3%).

The largest decreases were registered in Greece (from 19.1% to 16.9% between July 2018 and July 2019), Cyprus (from 8.0% to 6.6%) and Estonia (from 5.3% to 3.9% between August 2018 and August 2019).

In September 2019, the unemployment rate in the United States was 3.5%, down from 3.7% in August 2019 and from 3.7% in September 2018.