Poland bottom of the pile
Unemployment in the 12 states crept up to 8.9 percent in February from 8.8 percent in January, says Eurostat, the statistical arm of the European Union.
Ireland enjoyed the lowest rate at 4.3 percent, just ahead of Luxembourg and Austria with 4.4 and 4.6 percent respectively, and Poland was at the other end of the scale with 18.1 percent, ahead of Slovakia (16.2 percent) and Greece (10.5 percent in September 2004).
Unemployment in the 25 member states was also 8.9 percent, unchanged from January. In February 2004 it was nine percent.
Although Poland is the worst of the EU members, it has made some inroads in the past year, reducing unemployment from 19.1 percent in February last year to 18.1 percent this year. Some 13 member states recorded a decrease in unemployment and 11 saw an increase, with Austria remaining stable. Lithuania slashed its rate from 11.6 percent to 8.9 and Estonia cut its rate from 9.9 to eight percent. The Netherlands saw the worst increase, from 4.3 to 4.7 percent.
More men are now working in the eurozone. In February 2004, the male unemployment rate was 7.5 percent, and this has dropped to 7.4 whereas the female rate grew from 10.6 to 10.7 percent. In the EU25 the figures were 7.9 for men and 10.2 percent for women.
Those under the age of 25 continue to make up a large proportion of the unemployed. In February 2005, the unemployment rate for under-25s was 18.5 percent in the eurozone and 18.8 percent in the EU25. The lowest rates for under-25s were observed in Denmark and the Netherlands, at 7.4 percent. Poland again came last with 37.6 percent of its youth out of work, followed by Slovakia, at 28.8, Greece, 26.3, and Italy with 24 percent.
Overall, Eurostat says that in February 2005, 12.8 million men and women were unemployed in the eurozone and 19.1 million in the EU25. These are seasonally adjusted figures in line with ILO criteria. This compares with unemployment rates in the US of 5.4 percent 4.6 percent in Japan.
Ireland enjoyed the lowest rate at 4.3 percent, just ahead of Luxembourg and Austria with 4.4 and 4.6 percent respectively, and Poland was at the other end of the scale with 18.1 percent, ahead of Slovakia (16.2 percent) and Greece (10.5 percent in September 2004).
Unemployment in the 25 member states was also 8.9 percent, unchanged from January. In February 2004 it was nine percent.
Although Poland is the worst of the EU members, it has made some inroads in the past year, reducing unemployment from 19.1 percent in February last year to 18.1 percent this year. Some 13 member states recorded a decrease in unemployment and 11 saw an increase, with Austria remaining stable. Lithuania slashed its rate from 11.6 percent to 8.9 and Estonia cut its rate from 9.9 to eight percent. The Netherlands saw the worst increase, from 4.3 to 4.7 percent.
More men are now working in the eurozone. In February 2004, the male unemployment rate was 7.5 percent, and this has dropped to 7.4 whereas the female rate grew from 10.6 to 10.7 percent. In the EU25 the figures were 7.9 for men and 10.2 percent for women.
Those under the age of 25 continue to make up a large proportion of the unemployed. In February 2005, the unemployment rate for under-25s was 18.5 percent in the eurozone and 18.8 percent in the EU25. The lowest rates for under-25s were observed in Denmark and the Netherlands, at 7.4 percent. Poland again came last with 37.6 percent of its youth out of work, followed by Slovakia, at 28.8, Greece, 26.3, and Italy with 24 percent.
Overall, Eurostat says that in February 2005, 12.8 million men and women were unemployed in the eurozone and 19.1 million in the EU25. These are seasonally adjusted figures in line with ILO criteria. This compares with unemployment rates in the US of 5.4 percent 4.6 percent in Japan.
