Unemployment high across Europe – EC report

Almost 13 million people in Europe have been unemployed for more than one year, according to a report issued by the European Commission on Monday evening. “Moreover, one in three unemployed people have spent more than two years without a job,” the EC’s statement said. Despite that, employment is growing in most sectors, by 0.2 percent in the first quarter of this year and by 0.3 percent in Q2. In the second quarter, growth was recorded in many member states, including Poland, where the number of employed persons grew by 0.5 percent. The EU’s overall unemployment rate in August was 10.2 percent and in the euro area it was 11.5 percent, the EC said. In terms of youth employment, the situation has improved, in some member states significantly. “Nevertheless, youth unemployment remains very high in countries such as Greece and Spain,” the statement read.