EU unemployment stable at 8 per cent

BRUSSELS – Unemployment in the European Union was unchanged at eight per cent in July despite economic growth of 0,9 per cent in the second quarter, according to data released Friday by the EU’s statistics office.

The jobless rate represented a fall from 8,7 per cent in July 2005. Eurostat said the 0,9 per cent second-quarter growth rate in the 25-nation bloc compared to 0,7 in the US and 0,2 per cent in Japan.Still, Europe’s unemployment rate continues to lag behind that of its trading partners with the US registering 4,8 per cent out of work in July and Japan 4,1 per cent.Poland, with 15 per cent, had the EU’s highest jobless rate, followed by Slovakia with 14 per cent.Other new EU members saw significant falls in unemployment over the year.Estonia’s rate fell to 4,2 per cent from 7,6 per cent since July 2005, and Lithuania’s from eight per cent to 5,5 per cent.Over the year, the EU economy grew by 2,8 per cent from the second quarter of 2005.In the 12-nation euro currency zone, second quarter growth was also 0,9 per cent, representing a 2,6 per cent rise.First quarter growth this year was 0,8 per cent in the EU and the euro-zone.Nampa-APEurostat said the 0,9 per cent second-quarter growth rate in the 25-nation bloc compared to 0,7 in the US and 0,2 per cent in Japan.Still, Europe’s unemployment rate continues to lag behind that of its trading partners with the US registering 4,8 per cent out of work in July and Japan 4,1 per cent.Poland, with 15 per cent, had the EU’s highest jobless rate, followed by Slovakia with 14 per cent.Other new EU members saw significant falls in unemployment over the year.Estonia’s rate fell to 4,2 per cent from 7,6 per cent since July 2005, and Lithuania’s from eight per cent to 5,5 per cent.Over the year, the EU economy grew by 2,8 per cent from the second quarter of 2005.In the 12-nation euro currency zone, second quarter growth was also 0,9 per cent, representing a 2,6 per cent rise.First quarter growth this year was 0,8 per cent in the EU and the euro-zone.Nampa-AP