In October, Malta and the Czech Republic placed third and fourth respectively among the countries with the least unemployment figures, with a 5.8% unemployment figure.

In November, according to Eurostat figures released yesterday, they both had the same unemployment figures but this time they had switched places, with the Czech Republic in the third lowest place and Malta in the fourth.

The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.5% in November 2014, stable compared with October 2014, but down from 11.9% in November 2013. The EU28 unemployment rate was 10.0% in November 2014, down from 10.1% in October 2014 and from 10.7% in November 2013.

Eurostat estimates that 24.423 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 18.394 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in November 2014. Compared with October 2014, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 19 000 in the EU28 and increased by 34 000 in the euro area. Compared with November 2013, unemployment fell by 1.487 million in the EU28 and by 522 000 in the euro area.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in November 2014 were recorded in Austria (4.9%) and Germany (5.0%), and the highest in Greece (25.7% in September 2014) and Spain (23.9%).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate in November 2014 fell in twenty-two Member States, increased in four and remained stable in Belgium and Slovenia. The largest decreases were registered in Greece (28.0% to 25.7% between September 2013 and September 2014), Hungary (9.5% to 7.4% between October 2013 and October 2014) and Spain (25.8% to 23.9%), and the highest increases in Italy (12.5% to 13.4%) and Finland (8.3% to 8.9%).

In November 2014, the unemployment rate in the United States was 5.8%, stable compared to October 2014, and down from 7.0% in November 2013.