The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 7.9% in December 2018, down from 8.6% in December 2017. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since October 2008, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

The EU28 unemployment rate was 6.6% in December 2018, down from 7.2% in December 2017. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since the start of the EU monthly unemployment series in January 2000. 

Eurostat estimates that 16.30 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 12.919 million in the euro area, were unemployed in December 2018. When compared with December 2017, unemployment fell by 1.53 million in the EU28 and by 1.17 million in the euro area.

When compared to the previous month, both the EU28 and euro area unemployment rates were stable.

Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates in December 2018 were recorded in Czech Republic (2.1%), Germany (3.3%), Poland (3.5%) and the Netherlands (3.6%).

The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (18.6% in October 2018), Spain (14.3%) and Italy (10.3%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all member states except France where it remained stable. The most significant decreases were registered in Greece (from 21.0% to 18.6% between October 2017 and October 2018.

In December 2018, the youth unemployment rate stood at 14.9% in the EU28 and 16.6% in the euro area, compared with 16.1% and 17.8% respectively in December 2017. The lowest rates were recorded in the Czech Republic (5.8%) while the highest was recorded in Greece (38.5% in October 2018).