Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union published the latest data with regard unemployment in the EU. The EU unemployment rate was 9.7% in September 2011, compared with 9.6% in August. It was 9.6% in September 2010. The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.2% in September 2011, compared with 10.1% in August. It was 10.1% in September 2010.

According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, 23.264 million men and women in the EU, were unemployed in September 2011. Compared with August 2011, the number of persons unemployed increased. Compared with September 2010, unemployment rose by 215.000 in the EU and by 329.000 in the euro area.

With regard to the unemployment rates by Member States, Austria registered the lowest unemployment rates (3.9%) once more and Spain, the highest rates (22.6%). Following figures published in July, unemployment rates rose in all Member States. Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in fourteen Member States and increased in thirteen. The largest falls were observed in Estonia (17.9% to 12.8% between the second quarters of 2010 and 2011), Latvia (19.4% to 16.1% between the second quarters of 2010 and 2011) and Lithuania (18.2% to 15.5% between the second quarters of 2010 and 2011). The highest increases were registered in Greece (12.6% to 17.6% between July 2010 and July 2011), Spain (20.5% to 22.6%) and Cyprus (6.0% to 7.8%).

In addition, 5.308 million young persons (under-25s) were unemployed in the EU in September 2011. Compared with September 2010, youth unemployment increased by 41,000 in the EU and by 71,000 in the euro area. In September 2011, the youth unemployment rate was 21.4% in the EU and 21.2% in the euro area. In September 2010 it was 20.9% and 20.8% respectively. The lowest rates were observed in Austria (7.1%) and the Netherlands (8.0%), and the highest in Spain (48.0%) and Greece (43.5% in July).