Analytics, EU – Baltic States, Labour-market, Statistics

Eurostat estimates that 16.657 mln men and women in the EU28, of whom 13.220 mln in the euro area, were unemployed in August 2018. Compared with July 2018, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 114 000 in the EU28 and by 102 000 in the euro area. 

Compared with August 2017, unemployment fell by 1.921 mln in the EU28 and by 1.419 mln in the euro area. 

 Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in August 2018 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.5%), Germany and Poland (both 3.4%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (19.1% in June 2018) and Spain (15.2%). Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all Member States. The largest decreases were registered in Cyprus (from 10.5% to 7.5%), Croatia (from 10.9% to 8.5%), Greece (from 21.3% to 19.1% between June 2017 and June 2018) and Portugal (from 8.8% to 6.8%). In August 2018, the unemployment rate in the United States was 3.9%, stable compared with July 2018 and down from 4.4% in August 2017.

In August 2018, the youth unemployment rate was 14.8% in the EU28 and 16.6% in the euro area, compared with 16.6% and 18.5% respectively in August 2017. In August 2018, the lowest rates were observed in Germany (6.2%), the Czech Republic (6.3%) and the Netherlands (7.7%), while the highest were recorded in Greece (39.1% in June 2018), Spain (33.6%) and Italy (31.0%).