The euro area unemployment rate remained on its maximum in July 2012. Average percentage of unemployed in 17 countries with common currency was 11.3%. Compared to 2011 numbers, unemployment grew by 1.2 percentage points. In the EU27 unemployment rate was 10.4% in July 2012, compared to 9.6% in 2011.

As usual, the lowest unemployment rates were observed in Austria (4.5%), the Netherlands (5.3%), Germany and Luxembourg (both 5.5%), and the highest in Spain (25.1%) and Greece (23.1% in April 2012). Youth unemployment remains crucial issue of the EU27.  In July 2012 it was 22.5% in the euro area and 22.6% in the EU27. Lowest rates were measured in Germany (8%) and Austria (8.9%) and the highest in Greece (53.8% in April 2012) and Spain (52.9%).

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