brUSSELS, Jan 6 (KUNA) -- The unemployment rate in the 27-member European Union was 9.8% in November 2011, unchanged compared with October.
The unemployment rate in the 17-member euro area was 10.3% in November 2011, unchanged compared with October, according to figures released Friday by Eurostat, the EU's statistical office.
Eurostat estimated that 23.674 million men and women in the EU, of whom 16.
372 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in November 2011. Compared with October 2011, the number of persons unemployed increased by 55 000 in the EUand by 45 000 in the euro area. Compared with November 2010, unemployment rose by 723,000 in the EU and by 587 000 in the euro area.
Among the EU Member States, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (4.0%), Luxembourg and the Netherlands (both 4.9%), and the highest in Spain (22.9%), Greece (18.8% ) and Lithuania (15.3% ). Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in fourteen EU Member States and rose in thirteen. (end) nk.ajs KUNA 061858 Jan 12NNNN¬