Brussels, 10/11/2004 (Agence Europe) - En 2003, the regional unemployment rates displayed wide disparities, from the 2% for the Italian region of Bolzano, which has overtaken the Austrian Tirol area and 31.8% for the French island of la Réunion, which has risen in comparison with its figures for 2002. Data published on Tuesday by Eurostat see figures on the rise in 60% of the level 2 regions between 2002 and 2003. Overall, the figures for 2003 slightly increased compared to last year, from 8.9% - 9.1% on average in the EU 25 and 8.4% - 8.9% in the Euro zone.
53 of the 254 regions of the EU are below 4.5%, which corresponds to half of the Community average (9.1%). These include 11 of the 12 Dutch regions (apart from Groningen) and 8 of the 9 Austrian regions (apart from Vienna), but also 18 regions in the United Kingdom and 8 regions in Italy, as well as Cyprus (4.1%) and Luxembourg (3.7%). At the bottom of the league, 25 regions have levels that are equal to, higher or double the average, 18,2%. These include 10 of the 16 Polish regions, 5 regions in Germany (Dessau, Halle, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Leipzig and Brandenbourg-Nordost) and the 4 French overseas departments (DOM), 3 regions in Italy (Calabria, Campania and Sicily), 2 Slovak areas (Východné Slovensko, Stredné Slovensko), and 1 Spanish region (Andalucia).
The rate for unemployed women also rose slightly between 2002 and 2003, from 9.9% - 10%. It is higher than that for men in almost two third of EU regions. Two regions demonstrate two extreme: the Austrian region of Salzburg, 2.3% and the Italian region of Calabria with 33.3%.
Young people aged between 15 - 24 who are those most affected by unemployment come from the Italian region of Campania (58.4%), and those from the Austrian Tirol are the least affected (4.5%). 6 EU regions (Austria and the Netherlands) had youth unemployment rates that are less or equal to 6% in 2003, whereas 6 other regions (in Italy, France and Poland) were above 50%. The rate of youth unemployment is more than double that for overall unemployment in almost three quarters of.
The Commission's autumn forecast for 2004 and 2005 (EUROPE 28 October, p 11) predict unemployment rates will remain at their present levels (9.1% for the EU 25 and 8.9% in the Euro zone), with a possible fall in 2006 due to job creation of around 800,000 this year and doubt that in 2005.