According to Eurostat, the euro area unemployment rate was 11.9% in January 2013, up from 11.8% in December 2012. The EU unemployment rate was also higher than in December 2012. Compared with one year ago, the highest increases were registered in Greece (20.8% to 27.0% between November 2011 and November 2012), Cyprus (9.9% to 14.7%), Portugal (14.7% to 17.6%) and Spain (23.6% to 26.2%).

Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, published its figures for the unemployment rates registered in the euro area and in the EU in January 2013. According to these figures, the euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.9% in January 2013, up from 11.8% in December 2012. The EU unemployment rate was 10.8%, up from 10.7% in the previous month. The unemployment rate in the euro area and in the EU increased in October 2012 in comparison with September.

With regard to the data registered among member states, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.9%), Germany and Luxembourg (both 5.3%) and the Netherlands (6.0%), and the highest in Greece (27.0% in November 2012), Spain (26.2%) and Portugal (17.6%). Actually, compared with one year ago the largest decreases were observed in Estonia (11.1% to 9.9% between December 2011 and December 2012), Latvia (15.5% to 14.4% between the fourth quarters of 2011 and 2012), Romania (7.4% to 6.6%) and the United Kingdom (8.3% to 7.7% between November 2011 and November 2012). The highest increases were registered in Greece (20.8% to 27.0% between November 2011 and November 2012), Cyprus (9.9% to 14.7%), Portugal (14.7% to 17.6%) and Spain (23.6% to 26.2%).

In January 2013, the youth unemployment rate was 23.6% in the EU and 24.2% in the euro area, compared with 22.4% and 21.9% respectively in January 2012. In January 2013 the lowest rates were observed in Germany (7.9%), Austria (9.9%) and the Netherlands (10.3%), and the highest in Greece (59.4% in November 2012), Spain (55.5%) and Italy (38.7%).