The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0% in September 2016, stable compared to August 2016 and down from 10.6% in September 2015. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since June 2011. The EU28 unemployment rate was 8.5% in September 2016, stable compared to August 2016 and down from 9.2% in September 2015. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since February 2009. These figures are published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Eurostat estimates that 20.789 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 16.181 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in September 2016. Compared with August 2016, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 150 000 in the EU28 and by 101 000 in the euro area. Compared with September 2015, unemployment fell by 1.596 million in the EU28 and by 905 000 in the euro area.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in September 2016 were recorded in the Czech Republic (4.0%) and Germany (4.1%). The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (23.2% in July 2016) and Spain (19.3%).