Brussels, 05/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - The rate of unemployment in the euro zone remained unchanged in September compared to August, at 8.8% of the active population, according to seasonally adjusted data published on Wednesday by Eurostat. In the European Union as a whole (EU15), the rate of unemployment also remains unchanged at 8%.
The lowest unemployment rates in September were recorded in Luxembourg (3.8%), the Netherlands (4.2%), Austria (4.5%) and Ireland (4.7%). Spain still had the highest rate, with 11.2%. In Germany and France, the unemployment rate remained stable in September compared to August, 9.4% and 9.5% respectively. A total of 12.4 million men and women were unemployed in September in the euro zone and 14.3 million in the EU as a whole, according to Eurostat's estimates.
Over the last year (September 2002-September 2003), the unemployment rate for men in the euro zone has risen to 7.8%, from 7.4% and for women, to 10.3% from 9.9%. Unemployment also rose among the under-25s, to 16.8% in the euro zone, compared to 16.2% in September 2002.