Unemployment in Malta continues to be among the lowest in the EU, Eurostat data issued on Wednesday shows.
The euro area (EA19) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 8.5% in February, down from 8.6% in January 2018 and from 9.5% in February 2017. That is the lowest rate recorded in the euro area since December 2008.
The EU28 unemployment rate was 7.1% in February 2018, down from 7.2% in January 2018 and from 8.0% in February 2017. That is the lowest rate recorded in the EU28 since September 2008.
The lowest unemployment rates in February 2018 were in the Czech Republic (2.4%), Germany and Malta (both 3.5%) as well as Hungary (3.7% in January 2018).
The highest unemployment rates were observed in Greece (20.8% in December 2017) and Spain (16.1%).
Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate fell in all Member States except Estonia where it increased (from 5.8% to 6.5% between January 2017 and January 2018). The largest decreases were registered in Cyprus (from 12.6% to 9.6%), Greece (from 23.4% to 20.8% between December 2016 and December 2017) and Croatia (from 12.0% to 9.6%).