The unemployment rate across the 28 Members States of the European Union was 9.6% in May 2015, down from 9.7% in April and down compared with 10.3% in May 2014, according to the latest figures from Eurostat, the statistical body of the European Union.

Unemployment across the 19 Eurozone countries was 11.1%, unchanged from March, but down compared with 11.6% in May 2014.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rate in May 2015 was recorded in Germany (4.7%), and the highest in Greece (25.6% in March 2015), and Spain (22.5%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate in May 2015 fell in 22 Member States, increased in five and remained stable in Cyprus.

The largest decreases were registered in Lithuania (down from 11.0% to 8.2%), Spain (down from 24.7% to 22.5%) and Ireland (down from 11.7% to 9.8%).

The increases were registered in Belgium (up from 8.4% to 8.6%), France (up from 10.1% to 10.3%), Romania (up from 6.8% to 7.1%), Austria (up from 5.6% to 6.0%), and Finland (up from 8.6% to 9.4%).

In May 2015, the unemployment rate in the United States was 5.5%, up from 5.4% in April 2015 and down from 6.3% in May 2014.