The European Union (EU) witnessed no change in its jobless rate of 9.6 per cent between August and September this year.

According to figures from Eurostat, the euro area saw a slight increase in unemployment over the month from ten per cent to 10.1 per cent.

The total number of people thought to be out of work within the 27 EU nations was 23.109 million in September 2010, an increase of 71,000 compared with August, the majority of whom (67,000) were in the eurozone.

Jobless totals rose year-on-year in both the EU27 and those nations that have adopted the euro during September 2010.

Lowest rates of people without jobs were recorded in the Netherlands, where the unemployment rate was 4.4 per cent in the month in question, and Austria (4.5 per cent).

Meanwhile, Spain had the highest rate of joblessness over the month, at 20.8 per cent.

Recent figures from Eurostat revealed a range in unemployment rates within 271 regions of the EU, from 2.1 per cent in Zeeland in the Netherlands to 27.1 per cent for the French overseas department of Reunion.

Posted by Alex Donnell