Eurozone in crisis: Unemployment

In graphics: Eurozone crisis

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Infographic showing unemployment figures for Eurozone countries

Unemployment rate

The unemployment rate is based on a survey. It equals the number of people who say they are looking for work as a percentage of the total number either in work or seeking it. The unemployment rate has been rising significantly in the three countries that have needed bail-outs - Greece, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland. It has also risen sharply in Spain, reaching 25% this year, although Spain has a long history of unusually high unemployment.

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UK
Finland
Slovakia
Slovenia
Portugal
Netherlands
Austria
Malta
Luxembourg
Cyprus
Italy
France
Spain
Greece
Ireland
Estonia
Germany
Belgium

EUROZONE UNEMPLOYMENT: FULL DATA

DownloadUnemployment rates for the eurozone and the UK_[33kb]

Contrast their fates with Germany, where unemployment has fallen this year to its lowest level since the country was unified more than two decades ago.

Many countries have seen unemployment rise as austerity measures following the financial crisis have led to cuts in government spending, which has involved public sector job losses.

What's more, labour costs rose unsustainably in the peripheral European countries during the last decade, leaving them too expensive relative to the much more productive German workers with whom they share a currency.

The chart shows data for all of the countries that officially use the euro as well as the UK, which is included to allow for comparisons.

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