The euro area unemployment rate was 9.1% in July, as expected

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 9.1% in July 2017, stable compared to June 2017 and down from 10.0% in July 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since February 2009. The EU28 unemployment rate was 7.7% in July 2017, stable compared to June 2017 and down from 8.5% in July 2016. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since December 2008. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Eurostat estimates that 18.916 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 14.860 million in the euro area, were unemployed in July 2017. Compared with June 2017, the number of persons unemployed increased by 93 000 in the EU28 and by 73 000 in the euro area. Compared with July 2016, unemployment fell by 1.928 million in the EU28 and by 1.309 million in the euro area.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in July 2017 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.9%), Germany (3.7%) and Malta (4.1%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (21.7% in May 2017) and Spain (17.1%).