EU jobless rate stays stable at 7.1 percent

1 April 2008

BRUSSELS – The EU’s statistical agency Eurostat says unemployment in the 15 countries that use the euro stayed stable at 7.1 percent in February.

The rate announced by the EU on Tuesday remains unchanged from January.

The Netherlands has recorded the lowest jobless rate with 2.7 percent. German unemployment was at 7.4 percent, and France was at 7.8 percent.

The U.S. jobless rate by comparison was at 4.8 percent in February, and Japan reported unemployment at 3.9 percent.