Luxembourg, 05/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - According to data published on 4 September by Eurostat, the seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment in the Euro-zone was 8.3% in July 2002 and remained unchanged compared to June. The rate was also stable in the E15, where the rate stood at 7.7% in June and July. The rate of unemployment in the USA was 5.8% in July and 5.4% in Japan.
The lowest rates were registered in Luxembourg (2.4%), the Netherlands (2.8%), Austria (4.1%), Denmark (4.3%), Ireland and Portugal (4.5%). The rate of unemployment in Spain (11.3%) was the highest in the EU. Amongst the twelve countries for which data is available over the last two months, eleven saw their unemployment rates rise over the year. The highest rates were recorded in Ireland (3.8%-4.5%), the Netherlands (2.4%-2.8%), Luxembourg (2%-2.4%) and Austria (3.6%-4.1%). The rate in Denmark remained stable at (4.3%).
The Statistical Office of the European Communities indicated that in annual terms (July 2001-July 2002), the unemployment rate for men in the Euro-zone rose from 6.7%-7.2% and for women from 9.7%-9.8%. In the E15, the rate was 6.4%-6.9% and 8.5%-8.7% respectively. In July 2002, the unemployment rate for under-25s was 16.4% in the Euro-zone and 15.3% in the E15 compared to 15.7% and 14.6% a year ago.