On October 31, 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 10.6 percent in September this year, stable compared to August. The unemployment rate in the region was 9.8 percent in September 2011. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the euro area was 11.6 percent in September rose from 11,5 percent recorded in August, while it was 10.3 in September last year.
Compared to September 2011, the unemployment rate in the EU-27 in September this year fell in seven states and increased in the 20 other states.
Among the EU-27 member states, in September the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria at 4.4 percent, in Luxembourg at 5.2 percent, and in the Netherlands and in Germany both at 5.4 percent. The highest unemployment rates were seen in Spain at 25.8 percent and in Greece at 25.1 percent (in July).
In September 2012, the unemployment rate was 7.8% in the USA and 4.2% in Japan