The European Union (EU) witnessed no change in joblessness during December 2010, new figures show.

Estimates published by Eurostat indicate the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate stood at 9.6 per cent across the 27 member states and at ten per cent in the eurozone nations.

During the 12 months to December 2010, joblessness in the EU27 was 9.5 per cent and 9.9 per cent in those countries that have adopted the euro.

According to the European statistical agency, 23.179 million men and women were out of work in the EU over the month in question, a fall of 19,000 in unemployment, while the number of people without jobs in the euro area fell by 73,000 to 15.775 million.

Lowest unemployment rates were recorded in the Netherlands, where 4.3 per cent of the population is out of work, Luxembourg (4.9 per cent) and Austria.

The sharpest fall in unemployment was seen in Malta during 2010, dropping from 7.3 per cent to 6.2 per cent over the year, with significant declines also taking place in Sweden, Germany and Finland.

In related news, Eurostat reported last month that gross domestic product rose in both the eurozone and the EU27 in the third quarter of 2010 compared with the same period of 2009.

Posted by Alex Donnell