04/04/2016 Press Releases
February 2016 Euro area unemployment rate at 10.3% EU28 at 8.9%
Reade the full Report HERE
The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.3% in February 2016, down from 10.4% in January 2016, and from 11.2% in February 2015. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since August 2011.
The EU28 unemployment rate was 8.9% in February 2016, stable compared to January 2016, and down from 9.7% in February 2015.
This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since May 2009. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Eurostat estimates that 21.651 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 16.634 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in February 2016. Compared with January 2016, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 59 000 in the EU28 and by 39 000 in the euro area. Compared with February 2015, unemployment fell by 1.971 million in the EU28 and by 1.303 million in the euro area.
Member States
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in February 2016 were recorded in Germany (4.3%) and the Czech Republic (4.5%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (24.0% in December 2015) and Spain (20.4%). Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate in February 2016 fell in twenty-four Member States, remained stable in Belgium and increased in Austria (from 5.4% to 6.0%), Latvia (from 9.7% to 10.1%) and Finland (from 9.1% to 9.2%). The largest decreases were registered in Cyprus (from 16.6% to 12.6%), Spain (from 23.2% to 20.4%), and Bulgaria (from 9.8% to 7.4%). In February 2016, the unemployment rate in the United States was 4.9%, stable compared to January 2016, and down from 5.5% in February 2015.
Youth unemployment
In February 2016, 4.381 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 3.011 million were in the euro area. Compared with February 2015, youth unemployment decreased by 428 000 in the EU28 and by 219 000 in the euro area. In February 2016, the youth unemployment rate was 19.4% in the EU28 and 21.6% in the euro area, compared with 20.9% and 22.7% respectively in February 2015. In February 2016, the lowest rates were observed in Germany (6.9%), the Czech Republic (10.2%), Denmark (10.5%) and Malta (10.8%), and the highest in Greece (48.9% in December 2015), Spain (45.3%), Croatia (40.3% in the fourth quarter 2015) and Italy (39.1%).
page source http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
Tel: +352-4301-33 444
eurostat-pressoffice@ec.europa.eu
