Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, reported that in August of the current year the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the European Union member states (EU-28) was 10.1 percent, the lowest value since February 2012 and decreasing from 10.2 percent in July, while declining from 10.8 percent in August 2013. The seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the euro area was 11.5 percent in August this year, unchanged from the previous month and decreasing from 12.0 percent in August 2013.
Compared to August 2013, in August this year the unemployment rate in the EU-28 fell in 22 states, increased in four states and remained stable in two states.
Among the EU-28 member states, in August the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.7%) and Germany (4.9%), and the highest in Greece (27.0% in June 2014) and in Spain (24.4%).
Meanwhile, in August this year the unemployment rate in the United States was 6.1 percent, down from 6.2 percent in July and declining from 7.2 percent in August 2013.
