Unemployment reached 26% in September

New unemployment record in Greece for September, as it reached 26% from 18.9% in September 2011 and 25.3% in August 2012. It is characteristic that the number of the unemployed increased heavily in one year by 38% and the unemployed reached 1,295,203.

 

The main victims are unfortunately young people up to 24 years old, with the unemployment rate reaching 56.4%. Unemployment is rampant in women as well, with a 30.1% rate. Attica, home to about 2/3 of Greece’s population, has stabilized in second place among the country’s regions with 27.6%.

 

According to the labour force survey of the Greek Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), the unemployment rate rose to 26% last September, compared to 25.3% in August 2012 and 18.9% in September 2011. The unemployed totaled 1,295,203 and increased by 356,495 compared with September last year (+38%) and 34,670 compared with August 2012 (+2.8%).

 

The total number of employees was estimated at 3,695,053, a decrease of 325,334 compared to September 2011 (-8.1%) and 21,626 compared to August of this year (-0.6%).

 

The economically inactive population, that is people who are not working nor seeking work, rose to 3,373,692 and increased by 283 compared to September 2011 and declined by 3,119 compared to August 2012 (-0.1%).

 

The unemployment rate among women stands at 30.1% (22.3% in September 2011) and for men at 22.9% (16.4%).

 

Based on age criteria, unemployment rose to 56.4% among young people aged 15-24 (from 47.6% in September last year), followed by the most productive age of 25-34 years which rose to 34.3% (25.6%), 35-44 years (21.9% from 15.5%), 45-54 years (19.5% from 13.3%), 55-64 years (13.5% from 8.3%) and 65-74 years (6.9% from 3%).

 

Among the decentralized administrations around the country, Epirus and Western Macedonia come first (28% in September 2012 from 20.4% in September 2011), Attica is second (27.6% from 19.2%), followed by Macedonia-Thrace (26, 3% from 20.5%), Thessaly-Continental Greece (26.1% from 19.2%), Peloponnesus-Western Greece-Ionian Islands (24.4% from 17%), Aegean (22.6% from 14 2%) and Crete (20% from 17.8%).