The Euro Area seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 9.6 per cent in December 2016, down from 9.7 per cent in November 2016 and down from 10.5 per cent in December 2015. The broader European Union had unemployment of 8.2 per cent, unchanged from November 2016 and down from 9.0 per cent in December 2015.

Before and during the recession of 2008-2009, European unemployment rates were similar to those reported in Nova Scotia.  However, during Europe's sovereign debt crisis of 2011-2012 unemployment rates escalated among many member states.  Since 2013, unemployment rates have been slowly coming down across Europe.  The broader EU unemployment rate is once again similar to levels reported for Nova Scotia, but within the Euro Area, unemployment rates remain elevated.

Among the Member States, the lowest unemployment rates in December were recorded in the Czech Republic (3.5 per cent) and Germany (3.9 per cent). The highest rates have been observed in Greece (23.0 per cent in October) and Spain (18.4 per cent).

On an annual basis, the Euro Area unemployment rate fell for the third consecutive year to 10.0 per cent in 2016, down from 10.9 per cent in 2015. The broader European Union unemployment rate fell for the third year to 8.5 per cent, down from 9.4 per cent in 2015.

Note: An unemployment person is defined by Eurostat according to the guidelines of the International Labour Organization as individual aged 15 to 74 (in Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway: 16 to 74 years), who is without work, is available to start work within the next two weeks and has actively sought employment at some time during the previous four weeks.  Canadian results from the Labour Force Survey shown above use slightly different age cohorts.

Source:  Eurostat: Unemployment