However, regional unemployment rates continued to vary widely across the EU regions, with the lowest rates recorded in the German regions of Freiburg and Niederbayern (both 2.5%), Oberbayern and Oberpfalz (both 2.7%), followed by Praha in the Czech Republic (2.8%).

For the purpose of the YEI for 2014-2015, "eligible regions" are those NUTS level 2 regions that have youth unemployment rates for young persons aged 15 to 24 of more than 25 % in 2012 and, for Member States where the youth unemployment rate has increased by more than 30 % in 2012, NUTS level 2 regions that have youth unemployment rates of more than 20 % in 2012.

Despite the recent rise in unemployment, the labour market is characterised by an employment rate above the EU average (68.2% in 2002) and an unemployment rate below the EU average (5.1%), with long-term unemployment representing 34.4% of total unemployment; however, there are growing signs of a mismatch between supply and demand (e.g. the rise in unemployment among young graduates).

The collapse of the shipbuilding industry on which this area depended has left high unemployment. In many families, several generations are unemployed.

The employment situation is reflected by an employment rate (68.3%) which is above the Community average, as well as a relatively low unemployment rate (4.2% in 2000). However, despite the generally positive trend of labour market indicators, structural problems persist: long-term unemployment accounts for 40% of total unemployment, only a minority of the population aged between 15 and 64 have completed upper secondary school (11.5% compared with 42.3% in the European Union), and a high proportion of young people drop out of school early (43% of those aged between 18 and 24 leave school with inadequate qualifications).

The unemployment rate decreased in 1999 to 9.1% and is currently below the EU-average. Youth unemployment increased in 1999, but the unemployment ratio of young women diminished to 7.8 which is below EU-average.