On January 10, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, reported that in November last year the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the European Union member states (EU-28) was 10.9 percent, stable since May, and up slightly compared to the 10.8 percent recorded in November 2012. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the euro area was 12.1 percent in November, also stable since April, while it was 11.8 percent in November 2012.
Compared to November 2012, in November 2013 the unemployment rate in the EU-28 fell in 14 states and increased in 14 states.
Among the EU-28 member states, in November the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.8%), Germany (5.2%) and Luxembourg (6.1%), and the highest in Greece (27.4% in September 2013) and in Spain (26.7%).
Meanwhile, in November last year the unemployment rate in the United States was seven percent, down from 7.8 percent in November 2012.