(05 November 2018) – The euro area unemployment rate was 8.1% in September 2018, down from 8.9% in September 2017. The EU28 unemployment rate was 6.7% in September 2018, down from 7.5% in September 2017. These are the lowest rates recorded since January 2000.
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in September 2018 were recorded in Czechia (2.3%), Germany and Poland (both 3.4%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (19.0% in July 2018) and Spain (14.9%).
Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in 27 Member States and remained stable in Estonia. The largest decreases were registered in Cyprus (from 10.2% to 7.4%), Croatia (from 10.5% to 8.2%), Greece (from 20.9% to 19.0% between July 2017 and July 2018), Portugal (from 8.5% to 6.6%) and Spain (from 16.7% to 14.9%).
In September 2018, the unemployment rate in the United States was 3.7%, down from 3.9% in August 2018 and from 4.2% in September 2017.