Eurozone jobless rate unchanged for fifth straight month

(Sharecast News) - The jobless rate in the eurozone held steady at a record low for the fifth straight month in March, according to figures released on Friday by Eurostat. The unemployment rate for the 20-member bloc was unchanged at 6.5% - having stayed at that level since November - matching economists' expectations.

However, compared with February, the number of unemployed people still fell by 94,000.

Among member states, the highest levels of unemployment in March were seen in Spain (11.7%), Greece (10.2%), Finland and Estonia (both 7.8%); the lowest levels were registered in Slovenia (3.1%), Germany and Malta (both 3.2%).

Meanwhile, eurozone youth unemployment, defined by joblessness in the under-25 population, declined to 14.1% from 14.4% the month before, with the number of young people out of work falling by 30,000.