On April 2, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, reported that in February this year the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the European Union member states (EU-27) was 10.9 percent, up from 10.8 percent in January. The unemployment rate in the region has risen markedly compared to the 10.2 percent recorded in February 2012. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the euro area was 12 percent in February, stable compared to January while it was 10.9 percent in February 2012.
Compared to February 2012, the unemployment rate in the EU-27 in February of the current year fell in eight states and increased in 19 states.
Among the EU-27 member states, in February the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.8%), Germany (5.4%) and Luxembourg (5.5%) and the highest in Greece (26.4 % in December 2012), Spain (26.3%) and Portugal (17.5%).