On September 30, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, reported that in August this year the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the European Union member states (EU-28) was 10.9 percent, stable compared to July. The unemployment rate in the region in August indicated an increase compared to the 10.6 percent recorded in August 2012. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the euro area was 12 percent in August, also stable compared to July, while it was 11.5 percent in August 2012.
Compared to August 2012, in August of the current year the unemployment rate in the EU-28 fell in 11 states, increased in 16 states and remained stable in Poland.
Among the EU-28 member states, in August the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.9%), Germany (5.2%) and Luxembourg (5.8%), and the highest in Greece (27.9% in June 2013) and in Spain (26.2%).
Meanwhile, in August this year the unemployment rate in the United States was 7.3 percent, down from 8.1 percent in August 2012.