In the European Union, the unemployment rate was at 8.9%, which is the lowest level since May of 2009.
According to Eurostat data, there were 21.789 million unemployed in the EU in January, including 16.647 million in the eurozone.
Compared to December, the number of unemployed persons in the EU decreased by 163,000 in January, and in the euro area – by 105,000 persons.
Compared to January of last year, the number of unemployed persons decreased by 2.034 million in the EU and by 1.445 million in the euro area.
As compared to January 2015, unemployment rate decreased in 24 EU member states, increased in Latvia, Austria and Finland and remained unchanged in Estonia.
The highest rates were recorded in Spain – 20.5%, Croatia – 16.4%, and Cyprus – 15.3%.
Unemployment in Greece was higher than in Spain, 24.6%, but the latest data available from Greece are for the month of November, not January.
On the other hand, the lowest unemployment rates were registered in Germany – 4.3%, Denmark – 4.5%, and Malta – 5.1%.
Unemployment in Latvia was 10.4% in January, and in Lithuania – 9%. Data for Estonia are not yet available, but in December 2015, unemployment in Estonia was at 6.3%.
