The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 12.2% in September 2013, stable compared with August. The EU28 unemployment rate was 11.0%, also stable compared with August. In both zones, rates have risen compared with September 2012, when they were 11.6% and 10.6% respectively. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

In September 2013, 26.872 million men and women were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 19.447 million were in the euro area. Compared with August 2013, the number of persons unemployed went up by 61 000 in the EU28 and by 60 000 in the euro area. Compared with September 2012, unemployment rose by 978 000 in the EU28 and by 996 000 in the euro area.

Member States

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.9%), Germany (5.2%) and Luxembourg (5.9%), and the highest in Greece (27.6% in July 2013) and Spain (26.6%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate increased in sixteen Member States, fell in eleven and remained stable in the Czech Republic. The highest increases were registered in Cyprus (12.7% to 17.1%) and
Greece (25.0% to 27.6% between July 2012 and July 2013). The largest decreases were observed in Latvia (15.6% to 11.3% between the second quarters of 2012 and 2013) and Estonia (10.0% to 8.3% between August
2012 and August 2013).

In September 2013, the unemployment rate in the United States was 7.2%, down from 7.3% in August 2013 and from 7.8% in September 2012.