The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.4% in May 2018, down from 9.2% in May 2017 while the EU28 unemployment rate was 7.0% in May 2018, down from 7.7% in May 2017, according to data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Both the EU28 and euro area unemployment rates for May are the lowest rate recorded since August 2008 and December 2008, respectively.

Eurostat estimates that 17.20 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 13.65 million in the euro area, were unemployed in May 2018. Compared with May 2017, unemployment fell by 1.828 million in the EU28 and by 1.252 million in the euro area.

Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates in May 2018 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.3%) and Germany (3.4%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (20.1% in March 2018) and Spain (15.8%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all member states. The largest decreases were registered in Cyprus (from 11.4% to 8.4%), Croatia (from 11.3% to 8.9%), Greece (from 22.1% to 20.1% between March 2017 and March 2018) and Portugal (from 9.2% to 7.3%).

In May 2018, 3.37 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 2.39 million were in the euro area. Compared with May 2017, youth unemployment decreased by 519,000 in the EU28 and by 353,000 in the euro area. In the same month the youth unemployment rate was 15.1% in the EU28 and 16.8% in the euro area, compared with 17.2% and 19.3% respectively in May 2017.