The euro area (EA18) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.9% in February 2014, stable since October 2013. It was 12.0% in February 2013. The EU28 unemployment rate was 10.6% in February 2014, down from 10.7% in January 20144. It was 10.9% in February 2013. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Eurostat estimates that 25.920 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 18.965 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in February 2014. Compared with January 2014, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 65 000 in the EU28 and by 35 000 in the euro area. Compared with February 2013, unemployment decreased by 619 000 in the EU28, and by 166 000 in the euro area.

Member States

Among the Member States, 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 Spain (25.6%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate increased in eleven Member States, fell in fifteen and remained stable in Romania and Sweden. The highest increases were registered in Cyprus (14.7% to 16.7%), Greece (26.3% to 27.5% between December 2012 and December 2013), Italy (11.8% to 13.0%) and the Netherlands (6.2% to 7.3%). The largest decreases were observed in Hungary (11.2% to 8.3% between January 2013 and January 2014), Latvia (13.8% to 11.6% between the fourth quarters of 2012 and 2013), Portugal (17.5% to 15.3%), and Ireland (13.7% to 11.9%).

In February 2014, the unemployment rate in the United States was 6.7%, up from 6.6% in January 2014, but down from 7.7% in February 2013.