Prospects in OECD countries still not looking good for 2014 - Unemployment is likely to remain high in OECD countries in 2014, according to the most recent OECD Employment Outlook 2013 report, particularly among the young and workers with low skill sets. According to data in the report, unemployment rates are only expected to fall slightly over the next 18 months from 8% in May 2013 to 7.8% by the end of 2014. This represents a figure of around 48 million unemployed in the 34 OECD member countries. Significant and increasing disparities are also highlighted. In the US, unemployment is expected to fall from 7.6% in May 2013 to 7% at the end of 2014. In the United Kingdom, it will be around 7.8% as opposed to the current rate of 7.7%. In Germany, unemployment rates are expected to fall from 5.3% to at least 5%. In the rest of Europe, it will remain stable or even increase in many countries. Therefore, at the end of 2014, unemployment is expected to be just above 11% in France, above 14% in Ireland and close to 12.5% in Italy, while rates will be around 28% in both Spain and Greece. The euro zone average by the end of 2014 will be 12.3% as opposed to the current 12.2%. The OECD highlights four factors: 1) in many countries, job losses and falling income most often affect poor households with low skill sets as opposed to those with higher incomes and qualifications. In large emerging market economies, employment has not been significantly affected by the crisis but many workers remain trapped in insecure and low-paid jobs with little social protection; 2) youth unemployment rates are now at unprecedented levels in many countries: above 60% in Greece, 52% in South Africa, 55% in Spain and around 40% in Italy and Portugal; 3) people on precarious short-term contracts, particularly young and less skilled workers were often the first to be let go when the crisis began and many have found it difficult to find a job again; 4) older workers appear to be best resisting the effects of the crisis because their employment rates have increased or have only slightly fallen. (IL/transl.fl)