The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.3 percent in March 2015, stable compared with February 2015, but down from 11.7 percent in March 2014. The EU28 unemployment rate was 9.8 percent in March 2015 stable compared with February 2015 and down from 10.4 percent in March 2014.
Eurostat estimates that 23.748 million men and women in the EU28, of whom 18.105 million in the euro area, were unemployed in March 2015. Compared with February 2015, the number of persons unemployed decreased by75 000 in the EU28 and by 36 000 in the euro area. Compared with March 2014, unemployment fell by 1.523million in the EU28 and by 679 000 in the euro area.
Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rate in March 2015 was recorded in Germany (4.7 percent), and the highest in Greece (25.7 percent in January 2015) and Spain (23.0 percent).
Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate in March 2015 fell in twenty-two Member States, increased in five and remained stable in Austria. The largest decreases were registered in Ireland (12.0 percent to 9.8 percent), Spain (25.1 percent to 23.0 percent) and Poland (9.6 percent to 7.7 percent). The increases were registered in Croatia (17.3 percent to 18.2 percent), Finland (8.4 percent to 9.1 percent), Italy (12.4 percent to 13.0 percent), France (10.1 percent to 10.6 percent) and Belgium (8.4 percent to 8.5 percent).
In March 2015, the unemployment rate in the United States was 5.5 percent, the same as in February 2015 and down from 6.6 percent in March 2014.
In March 2015, 4.804 million young persons (under 25) were unemployed in the EU28, of whom 3.215 million were in the euro area. Compared with March 2014, youth unemployment decreased by 520 000 in the EU28 and by 276 000 in the euro area. In March 2015, the youth unemployment rate was 20.9 percent in the EU28 and 22.7 percent in the euro area, compared with 22.8 percent and 24.2 percent respectively in March 2014. In March 2015, the lowest rates were observed in Germany (7.2 percent), Austria (10.5 percent), Denmark and the Netherlands (both 10.8 percent), and the highest in Greece (50.1 percent in January 2015), Spain (50.1 percent), Croatia (45.5 percent in the first quarter 2015) and Italy (43.1 percent).
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