VZCZCXRO4380
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBS #3270/01 3041518
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311518Z OCT 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
RUEHC/DOL WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 003270 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DOL FOR BLS AND ILAB 
TREASURY FOR IMI 
STATE FOR DRL/IL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB EUN
SUBJECT:  EU UNEMPLOYMENT AT 7.0 PERCENT; EURO ZONE UNEMPLOYMENT AT 
7.3 PERCENT 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY.  The aggregate unemployment rate for 
the EU-27 reached 7.0 percent in September 2007, 
according to data published by the EU Commission's 
Statistical Office (EUROSTAT) on October 31.  Unemployment in the 
euro zone (the thirteen EU 
countries participating in the euro) stood at 7.3 
percent.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  With seasonal adjustment and compensation for 
differences in national statistical methods, the 
unemployment rate in the EU-27 stood at 7.0 percent 
in September 2007, down from 7.1 percent in August 2007 (revised 
upward from 6.7 percent initial estimate reported last month) and 
from 8.0 percent in September 2006.  The unemployment rate for the 
euro zone stood at 7.3 percent in September 2007, down from 7.4 
percent in August 2007 (also revised upward from 6.9 percent initial 
estimate) and from 8.1, percent in September 2006. 
 
¶3.  EUROSTAT said the significant upward revision of its August 2007 
rates for both the EU and euro areas was due mainly to a revision of 
German unemployment data, now based on the continuous Labor Force 
Survey to calculate monthly harmonized unemployment.  Due to the 
size of the German economy, the revision had a marked impact on 
EUROSTAT data.  Moreover, as a regular update of the calculation 
process, most recent data from the latest EU Labor Force Survey have 
been included for several Member States, which had the effect of 
causing a revision in the rates for Ireland and the Netherlands, in 
particular. 
 
¶4.  The lowest rates compiled by EUROSTAT from the 
EU-27 for September 2007 were recorded in the Netherlands (3.1 
percent) and in Denmark (3.3 percent, August 2007 figures).  The 
highest rates were recorded in Slovakia (11.1 percent) and Poland 
(8.8 percent). 
 
¶5.  EUROSTAT noted that twenty-three countries among 
the EU-27 recorded a decrease in their unemployment 
rate over a year and three an increase, while the unemployment rate 
was stable in Luxembourg.  The most significant decreases 
(September-to-September comparison) occurred in Poland (from 12.9 
percent to 8.8 percent) and Lithuania (from 6.0 percent to 4.1 
percent).  The highest relative increases were 
recorded in Ireland (from 4.1 percent to 4.8 percent) and Portugal 
(from 7.6 percent to 8.3 
percent). 
 
¶6.  Based on EUROSTAT estimates, male unemployment 
reached 6.5 percent in September 2007 for the EU-27 and 6.6 percent 
for the euro zone, down by 0.9 percentage point and 0.6 percentage 
point 
respectively when compared to September 2006.  The female rate over 
the same period decreased to 7.7 percent for the EU-27 (minus 1.0 
percentage point) and to 8.3 percent for the euro zone (minus 0.9 
percentage point). 
 
¶7.  Unemployment rates among young people under 25 
(September 2007 estimates, unless otherwise noted) ranged from 5.6 
percent in the Netherlands, 6.5 percent in Denmark (August 2007), 
and 8.0 percent in Austria to 22.9 percent in Greece (second quarter 
of 2007), 21.6 percent in France, 19.6 percent in Romania and 19.2 
percent in Poland.  The rate for this age group in September 2007 
was estimated at 15.1 percent for the EU-27 and 14.9 percent for the 
euro zone, compared to 16.9 percent (minus 1.8 percentage point) and 
15.9 percent (minus 0.8 percentage point) respectively in September 
¶2006. 
 
¶8.  EUROSTAT estimated that 16.7 million were 
unemployed in the EU-27 in September 2007 (11.2 million in the euro 
zone).  Following is the breakdown of unemployment rates in 
ascending order for the individual EU member states: 
 
(Seasonally-adjusted) 
(September 2007 unless otherwise indicated) 
 
Netherlands  3.1 
Denmark  3.3 (August 2007) 
Cyprus   3.7 
Lithuania          4.1 
Austria   4.2 
Slovenia  4.7 
Ireland   4.8 
Luxembourg   4.8 
Czech Republic 5.2 
Latvia   5.2 
UK   5.3 (July 2007) 
Estonia  5.7 
 
BRUSSELS 00003270  002 OF 002 
 
 
Sweden     5.8 (provisional) 
Italy   5.9 (second quarter 2007) 
Bulgaria  6.3 
Malta   6.3 
Finland  6.9 
Romania  7.2 
Hungary  7.3 
Belgium   7.5 
Spain              8.0 
Germany            8.1 
Portugal   8.3 
Greece             8.4 (second quarter 2007) 
France      8.6 (see note below) 
Poland             8.8 
Slovakia          11.1 
Euro zone  7.3 
EU-27     7.0 
 
Note: Estimates for France are based on results of 
the Labor Force Survey that are provisional and will be subject to 
revision later this year. 
 
¶9.  The monthly rates and numbers of unemployed are 
estimated and based on data from the EU labor force 
survey.  The estimated rates may differ from 
national unemployment rates due to differences in 
methods and definitions of unemployment.  Unemployed 
people according to ILO criteria are those aged 15 
and over who: 
 
-- Are without work; 
 
-- Are available to start work within the next two 
weeks; and 
 
-- Have actively sought employment at some time 
during the previous four weeks. 
 
MURRAY