The Statistical Office of European Commission (Eurostat) has released the latest data on unemployment in Europe. In December 2009, the youth unemployment rate (under-25s) was 21.0% in the euro area and 21.4% in the EU27. To compare with the data of December 2008: it was 17.0% and 16.9% respectively. The lowest rate was observed in the Netherlands (7.6%), and the highest rates in Spain (44.5%) and Latvia (43.8%)

Eurostat estimates that 23.012 million men and women in the EU27 were unemployed in December 2009. Compared with November, the number of persons unemployed increased by 163 000 in the EU27. Compared with December 2008, unemployment went up by 4.628 million. Further information: Eurostat Press Release.