The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 8.2% in July 2018, down from 9.1% in July 2017 and the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since November 2008, according to data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Eurostat’s data also showed that the EU28 unemployment rate was 6.8% in July 2018, down from 7.6% in July 2017 and the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since April 2008.

For July 2018, Eurostat estimates that there were 16.82 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 13.38 million in the euro area, who were unemployed. Compared with July 2017, unemployment fell by 1.94 million in the EU28 and by 1.36 million in the euro area.

Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates in July 2018 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.3%), Germany (3.4%) and Poland (3.5%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (19.5% in May 2018) and Spain (15.1%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all member states. The largest decreases was registered in Cyprus (from 10.7% to 7.7%).

In July 2018, the youth unemployment rate was 14.8% in the EU28 and 16.6% in the euro area, compared with 16.8% and 18.7% respectively in July 2017. In July 2018, the lowest rate was observed in Germany (6.1%), while the highest was recorded in Greece (39.7% in May 2018).