The EU28 unemployment rate stood at 6.7% in November 2018, down from 7.3% in November 2017. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since the start of the EU monthly unemployment series in January 2000, according to figures published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The euro area’s unemployment rate stood at 7.9% in November 2018, down from 8.7% in November 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since October 2008.

Eurostat estimates that 16.49 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 13.040 million in the euro area, were unemployed in November 2018. Compared with November 2017, unemployment fell by 1.48 million in the EU28 and by 1.13 million in the euro area.

Among member states, the lowest unemployment rates in November 2018 were recorded in Czechia (1.9%), Germany (3.3%) and the Netherlands (3.5%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (18.6% in September 2018) and Spain (14.7%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all member states except Estonia where it remained stable. The largest decreases were registered in Croatia, and Spain.

Meanwhile, the youth unemployment rate in November was 15.2% in the EU28 and 16.9% in the euro area, compared with 16.1% and 17.8% respectively in November 2017. At the same time, the lowest rates were observed in the Czech Republic (4.9%), Germany (6.1%) and the Netherlands (6.9%), while the highest were recorded in Greece (36.6% in September 2018), Spain (34.1%) and Italy (31.6%).