February 2006 Euro-zone unemployment down to 8.2%

STAT/06/43

4 April 2006

February 2006 Euro-zone unemployment down to 8.2% EU25 unchanged at 8.5%

Euro-zone1 seasonally-adjusted unemployment2 stood at 8.2% in February 2006, compared to 8.3% in January3. It was 8.8% in February 2005. The EU254 unemployment rate was 8.5% in February 2006, unchanged compared to January3. It was 8.9% in February 2005.

In February 2006, the lowest rates were registered in Ireland (4.3%), Denmark and the Netherlands (both 4.4%), the United Kingdom (4.9% in December) and Austria (5.1%). Unemployment rates were highest in Poland (17.0%), Slovakia (15.8%), Greece (9.6% in the fourth quarter 2005), France (9.1%) and Germany5 (8.9%).

These figures come from Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.

Amongst the Member States, seventeen recorded a decrease in their unemployment rate over a year, two remained stable and five reported an increase. The largest relative falls were observed in Estonia (8.8% to 5.9%), Lithuania (9.5% to 6.6%), Denmark (5.3% to 4.4%), Latvia (9.4% to 8.0%) and Spain (9.9% to 8.7%). The highest relative increases were registered in Hungary (6.7% to 7.6%), Malta (7.1% to 8.0%), Luxembourg (5.0% to 5.4%), the United Kingdom (4.6% in December 2004 to 4.9% in December 2005), and Portugal (7.3% to 7.7%).

The unemployment rate for males fell from 7.6% to 7.0% in the euro-zone between February 2005 and February 2006 and from 8.0% to 7.6% in the EU25. The female unemployment rate declined from 10.3% to 9.7% in the euro-zone and from 10.1% to 9.6% in the EU25.

In February 2006, the unemployment rate for under-25s was 17.7% in the euro-zone and 18.5% in the EU25. In February 2005 it was 18.4% and 19.0% respectively. The lowest rates for under-25s were observed in the Netherlands (7.7%), Denmark (8.5%) and Ireland (8.6%), the highest in Poland (35.4%), Slovakia (30.5%), and Greece (26.4% in fourth quarter 2005).

Eurostat estimates that, in February 2006, 12.0 million men and women were unemployed in the euro-zone and 18.4 million in the EU25. These are seasonally-adjusted figures in line with ILO criteria.

In February 2006, the US unemployment rate was 4.8% and the Japanese rate was 4.1%.

Unemployment (%) in February 2006 - in ascending order

Eurostat compiles "harmonised" unemployment rates for Member States. These unemployment rates are based on definitions recommended by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). "Harmonised" means that the national micro data concerning the individuals and households are treated by Eurostat in the same fashion throughout the EU so as to allow comparability between the Member States.

The Eurostat definition of unemployed people are those aged 15 to 74 and who, following the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition:

- are without work;

- are available to start work within the next two weeks;

- and have actively sought employment at some time during the previous four weeks.

The unemployment rate is the number of people unemployed as a percentage of the labour force. The labour force is the total number of people employed and unemployed.

The numbers of unemployed and the monthly unemployment rate are estimates based on results of the European Union Labour Force Survey which is a household survey carried out in all countries on the basis of agreed definitions. These results are interpolated/ extrapolated to monthly data using national survey data and national monthly series on registered unemployment. The most recent figures are therefore provisional; first results from the Labour Force Survey are available 90 days after the end of the reference period for most Member States.

Monthly unemployment and employment series are calculated first at the level of four categories for each Member State (males and females 15-24 years, males and females 25-74 years). These series are then seasonally adjusted and all the national and European aggregates are calculated. Before the aggregation, missing national data are estimated using the most recent trends of the series.

Registered unemployed data are national administrative data compiled on a purely national basis and purposes. There are no European-wide rules on definition and coverage. Therefore the ensuing unemployment rates cannot be compared from one country to another. National legislation on the definition of unemployment and therefore its calculation can change in individual states. The conditions to receive unemployment benefits and assistance vary from one country to another. This affects the willingness of people to register themselves and the published unemployment rates.

Member States may also publish other rates than register based unemployment rates, for example based on national Labour Force or corresponding surveys. Although still internationally comparable, these rates may vary to a minor extent from those published by Eurostat due to different methodological choices.

Current deviations from definition of unemployment in the EU Labour Force Survey

Spain, United Kingdom: Unemployment is restricted to persons aged 16-74. In Spain the legal age limit for working is 16.

Netherlands: Persons without a job, who are available for work and looking for a job are only included in unemployment if they express that they would like to work.

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SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (%)

TOTAL MALES AND FEMALES

: Data not available Source: Eurostat

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (%) MALES

FEMALES

: Data not available Source: Eurostat

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATES (%) UNDER 25 YEARS7

25 YEARS AND OVER

: Data not available Source: Eurostat