Malta's unemployment levels in January remained stable and better than the euro area average, according to new figures published in Brussels this afternoon.

According to Eurostat – the EU's statistics arm – Malta's jobless stood at 6.5 per cent in January – the same as in the previous month. Malta's unemployment rate was also 6.5 per cent in January 2011.

While according to Eurostat, Malta had the fifth lowest unemployment rate among the EU's 27 member states in January, those trying to find a job in the euro area reached 10.7 per cent during the same month – a 0.7 per cent increase over the previous year.

Eurostat's figures show that Malta has the highest unemployment levels among the under 25 year olds' with statistics showing a 13.8 per cent level.

In January, the number of unemployed males stood at six per cent while the number of women looking for a job stood at 7.4 per cent.

Among the EU's member states, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria (four per cent), the Netherlands (five per cent) and Luxembourg (5.1 per cent), and the highest in Spain (23.3 per cent), Greece (19.9 per cent), Ireland and Portugal (both 14.8 per cent).