Employment figures from the European Union show the jobless rate for countries using the euro has climbed to a 15-year high.

The Eurostat data agency reported Wednesday that unemployment reached 10.9 percent in March, up from 10.8 percent in February. The March figure translates to 17.4 million people unemployed in the eurozone.

Unemployment was the worst in Spain, at 24 percent, and in Greece, where the jobless rate was nearly 22 percent.

Nations with the lowest unemployment include Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Germany, Europe's strongest economy. Unemployment in those nations ranged from 4 to 5.5 percent.

On Tuesday, May Day protesters across the European Union called for an end to austerity measures meant to deal with the flagging economy. They called instead for a new focus on job creation.