BRUSSELS, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- The unemployment rate in the European Union was unchanged in October, remaining at 9.6 percent, Eurostat said Tuesday.
The official numbers office for the European Union said the unemployment rate rose in the 16 member states that share the euro as currency. In the eurozone, unemployment climbed to 10.1 percent from 10 percent.
The rate for the 27-member EU has held relatively steady for a year. In October 2009, the EU's unemployment rate was 9.4 percent. In the eurozone a year ago, the rate was 9.9 percent.
Among the 27 members of the EU, more than 23 million workers are unemployed, nearly 16 million in the eurozone.
Eurostat said unemployment was at an enviable 4.4 percent in the Netherlands and 4.8 percent in Austria. In Luxembourg, the unemployment rate is 5 percent.
In larger economies, the numbers rise. Unemployment is at 20.7 percent in Spain, 19 percent in Latvia and 18.4 percent in Lithuania, using the latest figures available.
In Germany, the largest economy in the EU, unemployment has dropped from 7.5 percent a year ago to 6.7 percent. In Sweden, unemployment over 12 months has fallen from 8.8 percent to 8.1 percent.
Unemployment has risen from the past year in Lithuania -- 14.4 percent to 18.4 percent -- and in Greece, rising from 9.2 percent to 12.2 percent.
In 19 of 27 member states, unemployment increased from the past year, Eurostat said.
