Statistics don't lie

A modern Greek tragedy is unfolding according to the new statistics from the Greek Statistics Bureau, which has published the numbers for 2010’s 4th semester.

4.299.045 million people still work in Greece and 712.065 are unemployed.

The unemployment rate is 14,2% compared to 12,4% last year.

There is also a new reality in reference to foreign citizens working in Greece; their unemployment rates are higher than those of Greek citizens (17% over 13,9%), but also their employment rates are higher than those of Greek citizens (73,6% over 52,4%).

At the same time, in the 4th semester of 2010, the consumers spent 6,7% less than in 2009. Investments have decreased by 7,6% in relation to 2009.

However, there was an increase of 12,8% in exports of goods and services, whereas imports decreased by 3,2%.

Western Macedonia and the Ionian Islands are the worst afflicted areas

The largest percentage of unemployment is in the area of the Ionian Islands at 18,1% and in Western Macedonia at 17,4%. The smallest unemployment rate is in the Peloponnese at 10,7% and the Northern Aegean at 10,5%.

Part-time work is still low for Greece and covers about 6,5% of the workforce. Of that percentage, 54,4% of those employed had to make that choice since they couldn’t find full time jobs, whilst 6,3% decided to do it due to child or elderly care they are responsible for.