The latest estimates published by Eurostat showed that both the EU and the euro area unemployment rates remained stable in December 2012 compared with November. The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.3%), Germany and Luxembourg (both 5.3%) and the Netherlands (5.8%), and the highest in Greece (26.8% in October 2012) and Spain (26.1%).

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published its estimates with regard to the unemployment rates registered in December 2012. According to Eurostat, the euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.7%, stable compared with November, and the EU unemployment rate was 10.7%, also stable in December 2012. In both zones, rates have risen markedly compared with December 2011, when they were 10.7% and 10.0% respectively. The unemployment rate in the euro area and in the EU increased in October 2012 in comparison with September 2012.

With regard to the data registered by Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.3%), Germany and Luxembourg (both 5.3%) and the Netherlands (5.8%), and the highest in Greece (26.8% in October 2012) and Spain (26.1%). Compared with a year ago, the largest decreases were observed in Estonia (12.1% to 9.9% between November 2011 and November 2012), Latvia (15.7% to 14.1% between the third quarters of 2011 and 2012) and Lithuania (13.7% to 12.3%). The highest increases were registered in Greece (19.7% to 26.8% between October 2011 and October 2012), Cyprus (9.7% to 14.7%) and Spain (23.2% to 26.1%).

In December 2012, the youth unemployment rate was 23.4% in the EU and 24.0% in the euro area, compared with 22.2% and 21.7% respectively in December 2011. In December 2012 the lowest rates were observed in Germany (8.0%), Austria (8.5%) and the Netherlands (10.0%), and the highest in Greece (57.6% in October 2012) and Spain (55.6%).