On April 1, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, reported that in February of the current year the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the European Union member states (EU-28) was 10.6 percent, down from 10.7 percent recorded in January, while it was 10.9 percent in February 2013. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the euro area was 11.9 percent in February, stable since October 2013, while it was 12 percent in February 2013.
Compared to February 2013, in February this year the unemployment rate in the EU-28 fell in 15 states, increased in 11 states and remained stable in Sweden and Romania.
Among the EU-28 member states, in February the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.8%), Germany (5.1%) and Luxembourg (6.1%), and the highest in Greece (27.5% in December 2013) and in Spain (25.6%).
Meanwhile, in February this year the unemployment rate in the United States was 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent in January, but down from 7.7 percent in February 2013.