Sharp increase in unemployment in the EU

Unemployment has been rising sharply in the European Union since March 2008 as a result of the economic crisis. The increase is currently felt in every Member State of the European Union, by both males and females, young and old. However, the onset of the increase as well as its severity varies widely between countries. Men are clearly affected more than women. Young people appear to be more vulnerable too. The statistics presented are primarily based on the latest results (first quarter of 2009) from the European Labour Force Survey (LFS). Monthly figures for total unemployment, including for recent months, are produced by Eurostat using auxiliary monthly information combined with the LFS. All figures are made comparable between countries. All data described here are seasonally adjusted. This publication is the first in a series analysing the effects of the current economic crisis on the labour market in Europe.