Jobless rate continues steep upward trajectory
Unemployment in Greece soared to 11.3 percent in January, from 10.2 percent a month earlier and 9.4 percent in January 2009, according to figures released yesterday by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). On an annual basis, the jobless numbers increased 21.8 percent, reaching 567,132 people, with unemployment for women climbing to 14.9 percent from 13.3 percent a year earlier. Among men, unemployment came to 8.7 percent from 6.7 percent in January 2009. The age group with the highest jobless rate remains those aged between 15 and 24, of whom 30.4 percent were without a job in January. Nevertheless, the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) countered yesterday that the real level of unemployment in Greece stands at around 17.5 percent, i.e. 800,000 people who don’t have jobs.
