EU Unemployment Stabilises at 8.5% in September 2016

The unemployment rate in the 28 member-states of the EU stabilised in September at its lowest level in seven and a half years - 8.5%, while, at the same time, unemployment in Bulgaria marked a decrease to 7.5%, reaching its lowest level since 2009, showed Eurostat data.

In September, unemployment in the EU remained at its August level of 8.5% and below the 9.2% level a year ago (September 2015). Thus, the unemployment rate in the EU remains for a second consecutive month at its lowest level since February 2009.

Unemployment in the Eurozone also stabilised for a second consecutive month at 10% (its lowest level since June 2011), compared to a level of 10.6% a year ago.

According to European statistics, a total of 20.789 million Europeans, out of which 16.181 in the Eurozone, were unemployed in September 2016. A decrease of 105,000 was recorded, compared to August 2016, while the number of unemployed in the Eurozone was also reduced by 101,000.

Compared to September 2015, the total number of unemployed Europeans decreased by 1.596 million, out of which 905,000 were in the Eurozone.

The lowest unemployment rate was recorded in the Czech Republic (4%), followed by Germany (4.1%). Unemployment was highest in Greece (23.2%, data for July 2016) and Spain (19.3% September 2016).