The report on employment and social developments in Europe, published today, notes that over 9 million more are unemployed compared with 2008.

“The report shows a limited and fragile economic recovery for the European Union. Unemployment decreased in 2014 but is still high at 10 percent,” said social affairs commissioner Marianne Thyssens.

“There is new job creation but it is too slow,” said the commissioner with the job rate at 68.3 percent, far off the 75 percent rate the EU is aiming for by 2020.

The report holds up the US where GDP is 8 percent higher than it was in 2007, noting that euro area GDP is still below what it was seven years ago.
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According to seasonally adjusted figures released by EU statistics office, Eurostat, unemployment rate in September 2014 across the 28 member states was 10.1%.

The highest rates were observed in Greece where it reached 26.4%. The lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Germany, where only 5% of the total population did not have a job, and the highest in Greece, where more than one out of five citizens was unemployed (26.4%), followed by Spain with 24%.

Compared with August 2014, people without work have decreased by 108,000 in the European Union and by 19,000 in the Eurozone. Compared with September 2013, unemployment fell by 1.818 million in the Union and by 826,000 in the Eurozone. At the same time, in the 18-member Eurozone, unemployment was at a stable 11.5%, compared with August 2014, but down from 12% in September 2013.

When it comes to youth unemployment the highest rates are in Spain – 53.7% and Greece – 50.7%. In September 2014, 4.988 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU, of whom 3.340 million were in the eurozone. Compared with September 2013, youth unemployment decreased by 595,000 in the EU and by 213,000 in the eurozone. In September 2014, the youth unemployment rate was 21.6% in the EU and 23.3% in the eurozone, compared with 23.5% and 24% respectively in September 2013.