The eurozone seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 12.2 per cent in May 2013, up from 12.1 per cent in April, according to Eurostat.

In May 2012, the rate was 11.3 per cent.

Eurostat estimates that 26.5 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 19 million were in the eurozone, were unemployed in May 2013.

Compared with April 2013, the number of persons unemployed increased by 15,000 in the EU27 and by 67,000 in the eurozone area.

Among the member states, the lowest unemployment rate was recorded in Austria (4.7 per cent) and the highest in Spain (26.9 per cent).

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate increased in 17 member states and fell in 10. In Malta it was 6.2 per cent in May, compared with 6.7 per cent a year ago and 6.1 per in April.

In May 2013, the youth unemployment rate was 23.1 per cent in the EU27 and 23.9 per cent in the eurozone, compared with 22.8 per cent and 23 per cent respectively in May 2012.

In May 2013, the lowest rate was observed in Germany (7.6 per cent), (10.6 per cent), and the highest in Greece (59.2 per cent in March 2013). In Malta it was 12.1 per cent compared with 15.3 per cent a year ago and 12.3 per cent in April.