The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 9.5% in February 2017, down from 10.3% the year before, according to figures published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Data from Eurostat also shows that the EU28 unemployment rate was 8.0% in February, down from 8.9% in the same period last year. This figure is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since January 2009.

On a month-to-month basis, EA19 unemployment was down from 9.6% in January while EU28 unemployment was down from 9.6% in January.

Eurostat estimates that 19.750 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 15.439 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in February 2017. Compared with February 2016, unemployment fell by 1.852 million in the EU28 and by 1.246 million in the euro area.

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate in February 2017 fell in 26 member states, while it increased in Denmark and Lithuania.

Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates in February 2017 were recorded in the Czech Republic, Germany and Malta (4.1%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece and Spain.

Meanwhile, in February 2017, the youth unemployment rate was 17.3% in the EU28 and 19.4% in the euro area, compared with 19.3% and 21.6% respectively in February 2016.