The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7.7% in March 2019, down from 8.5% in March 2018 and the lowest rate since September 2008. At the same time, the EU28 unemployment rate was 6.4% in March 2019, down from 7.0% in March 2018 and the lowest rate since the start of the EU monthly unemployment series in January 2000, according to figures from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

On a month-to-month basis, both the euro area and EU 28 jobless rates fell by 0.1%.

Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates in March 2019 were recorded in Czechia (1.9%), Germany (3.2%) and the Netherlands (3.3%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (18.5% in January 2019), Spain (14.0%) and Italy (10.2%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all member states except Denmark (between February 2018 and February 2019) and Sweden where it remained stable.

The largest year-on-year decreases were registered in Greece (from 20.6% to 18.5% between January 2018 and January 2019), Estonia (from 6.7% to 4.6% between February 2018 and February 2019) and Cyprus (from 9.0% to 7.0%).

Meanwhile, in March 2019, the youth unemployment rate stood at 14.5% in the EU28 and 16.0% in the euro area, compared with 15.5% and 17.4%, respectively in March 2018.