Employment increased by 1.3% in the euro area and by 1.2% in the EU28 during the third quarter of 2018 when compared to the same period last year, according to data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

When compared to the previous quarter, the number of persons employed increased by 0.2% in both the euro area and the EU28 in the third quarter of 2018.

In October, Eurostat published unemployment data, showing that the unemployment rate in the euro area stood at 8.1% in September 2018, down from 8.9% in September 2017. At the same time, the EU28 unemployment rate was 6.7% in September 2018, down from 7.5% in September 2017.

The lowest unemployment rates in September 2018 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.3%), Germany and Poland (both 3.4%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (19.0% in July 2018) and Spain (14.9%).