In October 2013, 26.654 million men and women were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 19.298 million were in the euro area. Compared with September 2013, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 75 000 in the EU28 and by 61 000 in the euro area. Compared with October 2012, unemployment rose by 512 000 in the EU28 and by 615 000 in the euro area.
Member States
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.8%), Germany (5.2%) and Luxembourg (5.9%), and the highest in Greece (27.3% in August 2013) and Spain (26.7%).
Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate increased in half of the Member States and fell in half. The highest increases were registered in Cyprus (13.2% to 17.0%), Greece (25.5% to 27.3% between August 2012 and August 2013) and the Netherlands (5.5% to 7.0%). The largest decreases were observed in Latvia (14.0% to 11.9% between the third quarters of 2012 and 2013), Ireland (14.5% to 12.6%) and Lithuania (13.0% to 11.1%).
In October 2013, the unemployment rate in the United States was 7.3%, up from 7.2% in September 2013 and down from 7.9% in October 2012.
Youth unemployment
In October 2013, 5.657 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 3.577 million were in the euro area. Compared with October 2012 youth unemployment decreased by 29 000 in the EU28, but increased by 15 000 in the euro area. In October 2013, the youth unemployment rate5 was 23.7% in the EU28 and 24.4% in the euro area, compared with 23.3% and 23.7% respectively in October 2012. In October 2013, the lowest rates were observed in Germany (7.8%), Austria (9.4%) and the Netherlands (11.6%), and the highest in Greece (58.0% in August 2013), Spain (57.4%) and Croatia (52.4% in the third quarter of 2013).
