Euro area unemployment at 8.5%

31 May 2018

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5% in April 2018, down from 8.6% in March 2018 and from 9.2% in April 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since December 2008.

The EU28 unemployment rate was 7.1% in April 2018, stable compared with March 2018 and down from 7.8% in April 2017. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since September 2008. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Eurostat estimates that 17.462 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 13.880 million in the euro area, were unemployed in April 2018. Compared with March 2018, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 53 000 in the EU28 and by 56 000 in the euro area. Compared with April 2017, unemployment fell by 1.633 million in the EU28 and by 1.088 million in the euro area.

Press release

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