The Eurozone (19 countries using the Euro) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.9% in September 2017, down from 9.0% in August 2017, and down from 9.9% in September 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the Eurozone since January 2009.
The unemployment rate for the entire EU was 7.5% in September 2017, stable compared to August 2017 and down from 8.4% in September 2016. This remains the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since November 2008. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
Eurostat says that compared with August 2017, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 116,000 in the EU28 and by 96,000 in the Eurozone. Compared with September 2016, unemployment fell by 2.076m in the EU28 and by 1.463m in the Eurozone.
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in September 2017 were recorded in the Czech Republic (2.7%), Germany (3.6%) and Malta (4.1%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (21.0% in July 2017) and Spain (16.7%).
Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all Member States for which data is comparable over time, except Finland where it remained stable and Lithuania where it increased (from 7.6% to 7.7%). The largest decreases were registered in Cyprus (from 13.0% to 10.3%), Spain (from 19.1% to 16.7%) and Greece (from 23.4% to 21.0% between July 2016 and July 2017).