The eurozone's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 11.8 percent in March 2014, stable since December 2013, but down from 12.0 percent in March 2013, the Eurostat, or the statistical office of the European Union, said Friday.
Eurostat estimated that a total of 18.91 million people were unemployed in March 2014 in the 18-member single currency area. The number of unemployed people decreased by 22,000 compared with the previous month, and fell by 316,000 compared with March 2013.
In the 28-member European Union, the unemployment rate was 10.5 percent in March 2014, stable compared with the previous month, but down from 10.9 percent in March 2013.
Among the EU member states, the lowest unemployment rates were recorded in Austria at 4.9 percent, followed by Germany's 5.1 percent and Luxembourg's 6.1 percent. Greece has the highest unemployment figure at 26.7 percent.
Young people unemployment is a big worry for governments especially in Greece, Spain, and Croatia.
In March 2014, the unemployment rate of people aged between 15 and 24 was 22.8 percent in the EU and 23.7 percent in the eurozone, compared with 23.5 percent and 24.0 percent respectively in March 2013./.