On October 1, 2012, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, reported that the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the European Union member states (EU-27) was 10.5 percent in August this year, stable compared to July. The unemployment rate in the region was 9.7 percent in August 2011. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the euro area was 11.4 percent in August, also stable compared to July, while it was 10.2 in August last year.
Compared to August 2011, the unemployment rate in the EU-27 in August this year fell in six states, increased in 20 and remained stable in the United Kingdom.
Among the EU-27 member states, in August the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria at 4.5 percent, in Luxembourg at 5.2 percent, in Netherlands at 5.3 percent and in Germany at 5.5 percent. The highest unemployment rates were seen in Spain at 25.1 percent and in Greece at 24.4 percent (in June).
Meanwhile, in August this year the unemployment rate in the US was 8.1 percent.