EU: Highest increase of unemployment in July 2013 recorded in Cyprus

The highest increase of unemployment among the 28 EU member states in July 2013 was recorded in Cyprus, according to figures published on Friday by Eurostat.

According to the statistical office of the EU, the highest increases were registered in Cyprus (12.2% to 17.3%), Greece (23.8% to 27.6% between May 2012 and May 2013), Slovenia (9.3% to 11.2%) and the Netherlands (5.3% to 7.0%). The largest decreases were observed in Latvia (15.7% to 11.5% between the second quarters of 2012 and 2013) and Estonia (10.1% to 7.9% between June 2012 and June 2013). Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate increased in seventeen member states and fell in eleven.

Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.8%), Germany (5.3%) and Luxembourg (5.7%), and the highest in Greece (27.6% in May 2013) and Spain (26.3%).

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 12.1% in July 2013, stable compared with June.

The EU28 unemployment rate was 11.0%, also stable compared with June. In both zones, rates have risen compared with July 2012, when they were 11.5% and 10.5% respectively.

Eurostat estimates that 26.654 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 19.231 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in July 2013. Compared with June 2013, the number of persons unemployed decreased by 33 000 in the EU28 and by 15 000 in the euro area.

Compared with July 2012, unemployment rose by 995 000 in the EU28 and by 1.008 million in the euro area.