Malta had the third lowest unemployment rate in the European Union in April, data published by the EU’s statistical agency shows. 

Eurostat said the unemployment rate in Malta in April stood at 4.1%, placing after Germany (3.9%) and the Czech Republic (3.2%).

The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 9.3%, down from 9.4% in March 2017 and down from 10.2% in April 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since March 2009. 

The EU28 unemployment rate was 7.8% in April 2017, down from 7.9% in March 2017 and from 8.7% in April 2016. This is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since December 2008.

Eurostat estimates that 19.121 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 15.040 million in the euro area, were unemployed in April 2017. Compared with March 2017, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 253,000 in the EU28 and by 233,000 in the euro area. Compared with April 2016, unemployment fell by 2.225 million in the EU28 and by 1.529 million in the euro area.

The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (23.2% in February 2017) and Spain (17.8%).