Euro area unemployment rate at 9.9% - May 2011 - EU27 at 9.3%

The euro area (EA17) seasonally-adjusted2 unemployment rate3 was 9.9% in May 2011, unchanged compared with April4. It was 10.2% in May 2010. The EU271 unemployment rate was 9.3% in May 2011, unchanged compared with April4. It was 9.7% in May 2010.
Eurostat estimates that 22.378 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 15.510 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in May 2011. Compared with April 2011, the number of persons unemployed fell by 5 000 in the EU27 and increased by 16 000 in the euro area. Compared with May 20105, unemployment decreased by 904 000 in the EU27 and by 551 000 in the euro area.