Rise in unemployment slowing, labour minister says

21:48 19/9/2013 - Πηγή: Matrix24

“The unemployment rate in the second half of 2013 appeared reduced, for the first time after 48 whole months, in other words since mid-2009 until today.

ELSTAT’S figures, in fact, are in step with the equivalent positive records of salaried employment flow in the same time period – as these were recorded in the IT system Ergani – thus confirming that unemployment is ‘putting

on the brakes’ and the labour market appears to be stabilising.

No one doubts that unemployment in our country remains at particularly high levels. It is not just the numbers that count, however, but primarily people. For this reason, we are continuing our efforts as a government, more methodically and with greater intensity, to support the unemployed and boost social cohesion in order to build a competitive economy that will create even more new jobs,” he said.

Jobless rate eases to 27.1 pct in Q2

Greece’s unemployment rate eased slightly to 27.1 pct in the second quarter of 2013, from 27.4 pct in the first quarter, although it was up from 23.6 pct in the second quarter of 2012, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) said on Thursday.

The statistics service, in a report, said that almost six out of 10 young people remained unemployed (59 pct), while long-term unemployment totalled 66.8 pct of total unemployment in the country.

The number of unemployed people totalled 1,350,435 in the second quarter, down 0.4 pct from the previous quarter but up 15.5 pct compared with the second quarter of 2012.

Unemployment was mainly hitting women (31.1 pct), while unemployment among men was 24.1 pct. The 15-24 age group recorded the biggest unemployment rate (59 pct), followed by the 25-29 age group (44.4 pct), the 30-44 age group (25.5 pct), the 45-64 age group (18.9 pct) and the over 65 years old group (11.3 pct).

Source: AMNA