On July 31, Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities, reported that in June of the current year the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the European Union member states (EU-28) was 10.2 percent, down from 10.3 percent in May, while it was down from 10.9 percent in June 2013. The seasonally-adjustmaled unemployment rate in the euro area was 11.5 percent in June, down from 11.6 percent in May, while decreasing from 12.0 percent in June 2013.
Compared to June 2013, in June this year the unemployment rate in the EU-28 fell in 21 states, increased in five states and remained stable in the Netherlands and Sweden.
Among the EU-28 member states, in June the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (5.0%), Germany (5.1%) and Malta (5.6%), and the highest in Greece (27.3% in April 2014) and in Spain (24.5%).
Meanwhile, in June this year the unemployment rate in the United States was 6.1 percent, down from 6.3 percent in May and declining from 7.5 percent in June 2013.