The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 9.3% in May 2017,  down from 10.2% in May 2016. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since March 2009. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The EU28 unemployment rate was 7.8% in May 2017, down from 8.7% in May 2016. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since December 2008.

On a month-to-month basis, both the EA19 and EU28 unemployment rates remained stable compared to April.

Eurostat estimates that 19.092 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 15.011 million in the euro area, were unemployed in May 2017. Compared with May 2016, unemployment fell by 2.145 million in the EU28 and by 1.452 million in the euro area. Compared with April 2017, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 32,000 in the EU28 and by 16,000 in the euro area.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in May 2017 were recorded in the Czech Republic (3.0%), Germany (3.9%) and Malta (4.1%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (22.5% in March 2017) and Spain (17.7%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate in May 2017 fell in all Member States for which data is comparable over time.

In May 2017, 3.762 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 2.621 million were in the euro area.  In May 2017, the youth unemployment rate was 16.9% in the EU28 and 18.9% in the euro area, compared with 19.0% and 21.3% respectively in May 2016. Compared with May 2016, youth unemployment decreased by 585,000 in the EU28 and by 402,000 in the euro area.