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Europe – Unemployment falls for second consecutive month

31 July 2014

Unemployment across the Eurozone was 11.5% in June 2014, down from 11.6% in May and 12% in June 2013. This marks the lowest level of unemployment since September 2012, according to the latest figures from Eurostat, the statistical body of the European Union.

Across the 28 EU Member States, unemployment fell to 10.2% in June 2014, compared with 10.3% in May and 10.9% in June 2013. The lowest rate of unemployment since March 2012.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (5%), Germany (5.1%), and Malta (5.6%), and the highest in Greece (27.3% in April 2014) and Spain (24.5%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in 21 Member States, increased in five and remained stable in the Netherlands and Sweden. The largest decreases were registered in Portugal (falling from 16.6% to 14.1%), Hungary (falling from 10.4% to 8.1% between May 2013 and May 2014), Ireland (falling from 13.6% to 11.8%), and Spain (falling from 26.2% to 24.5%).

The largest increases were reported in Finland (rising from 8.1% to 8.8%), Luxembourg (rising from 5.9% to 6.3%) and Austria (rising from 4.7% to 5%).

In June 2014, the unemployment rate in the United States was 6.1%, down from 6.3% in May 2014, and from 7.5% in June 2013.