Brussels, 04/08/2000 (Agence Europe) - A report from the EC's Statistical Office, Eurostat (Statistics in focus, No. 3/2000, entitled "Unemployment in the regions of the European Union 1999", confirms that the unemployment rate in the different regions of the EU is marked by considerable differences. The figures for April 1999, the last available, ranged for NUTS-2 regions from 2.1% in the region of Aland (Finland) to 28.7% in the region of Calabria (Italy). Compared to the figures for April 1998, 153 regions of the 205 regions included in the analysis saw a drop in unemployment and only 44 an increase. Most o the regions with the biggest absolute falls were in Spain, while the regions with the biggest increase were essentially in Greece. Among the regions observed, 47 had rates of unemployment of 4.7% at most, lower than the EU average of 9.4%. Greece, Spain, France, Ireland and Sweden had no regions in that group. At the other extreme, 11 regions of Italy, Spain and Germany recorded rates higher or equal to 18.9 %, or double the EU average. Eurostat also notes that:
i) Some Member states had striking imbalances within their borders. For example, in italy, the rates varied between 3.9% (Adige) and 28.7% (Calabria), in Spain between 7.1% 9Roja) and 26.8% (Andalucia), and in Germany between 4.0% (Oberbayern) and 20.9% (Dessau);
ii) Imbalances were even more striking if one considered youth unemployment (under 25). It did not exceed 3.5% in Niederosterreich (Austria) but reached 65.2% in Calabria (Italy);
iii) Differences in female unemployment rates were also striking, but to a lesser extent. These stood at 2.0% in the region of Berkshire, Bucks and Oxfordshire (UK) but 41.4% in Calabria (Italy). Compared to the previous year, Eurostat notes an improvement in the situation in this category, the most striking improvements being concentrated in Spain, whereas the highest unemployment rates were still registered in Greece and Italy.