EU unemployed hits record high

The European Union’s Statistics Agency (Eurostat) says unemployment across the 17-nation euro zone hit a record 18 million in July.

Eurostat says over 88,000 people have been added to the jobless total, but notes that the upwardly-revised data for June meant the unemployment rate remained at just over 11 per cent.

According to Eurostat, the 18 million jobless-figure recorded at the end of July was the highest since it began keeping records in 1995.

The data from the Eurostat show that the highest unemployment rate across the euro zone was the 25 percent, recorded in Spain while the 4.5 per cent recorded in Austria was the lowest.

Compared with a year ago, the unemployment rate increased in 16 euro zone countries, while 10 countries recorded a decline.