Unemployment in Euro Area – The lowest rate recorded since April 2012

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.2% in January 2015, down from 11.3% in December 2014, and from 11.8% in January 2014. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since April 2012. The EU28 unemployment rate was 9.8% in January 2015, down from 9.9% in December 2014 and from 10.6% in January 2014. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Eurostat estimates that 23.815 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 18.059 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in January 2015. Compared with December 2014, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 156 000 in the EU28 and by 140 000 in the euro area. Compared with January 2014, unemployment fell by 1.820 million in the EU28 and by 896 000 in the euro area.

Youth unemployment

In January 2015, 4.889 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 3.281 million were in the euro area. Compared with January 2014, youth unemployment decreased by 562 000 in the EU28 and by 259 000 in the euro area. In January 2015, the youth unemployment rate was 21.2% in the EU28 and 22.9% in the euro area, compared with 23.3% and 24.3% respectively in January 2014.