The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 8.5% in April 2018, down from 9.2% in April 2017. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since December 2008, according to data from Eurostat, the statistical body of the European Union.

The EU28 unemployment rate fell to 7.1% in April 2018, from 7.8% in April 2017. This is also the lowest rate recorded since September 2008.

Eurostat’s data estimates that 17.46 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 13.88 million in the euro area, were unemployed in April 2018. Compared with April 2017, unemployment fell by 1.63 million in the EU28 and by 1.08 million in the euro area.

Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates in April 2018 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.2%), Malta (3.0%) and Germany (3.4%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (20.8% in February 2018) and Spain (15.9%).

Compared with the same month last year, the unemployment rate fell in all member states except Italy where it remained stable and Estonia where it increased (from 5.3% to 5.6% between March 2017 and March 2018).

The largest decreases were registered in Cyprus (from 11.7% to 8.6%), Croatia (from 11.5% to 9.1%) and Portugal (from 9.5% to 7.4%).

Meanwhile, in April 2018, the youth unemployment rate was 15.3% in the EU28 and 17.2% in the euro area, compared with 17.2% and 19.3% respectively in April 2017.