Greek unemployment hits 25.4 percent
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Petrol bombs thrown by protesters explode near riot police in front of the parliament during clashes in Athens, Wednesday Nov. 7, 2012. Greeceís fragile coalition government faces its toughest test so far when lawmakers vote later Wednesday on new painful austerity measures demanded to keep the country afloat, on the second day of a nationwide general strike. The 13.5 billion euro ($17.3 billion) package is expected to scrape through Parliament, following a hasty one-day debate. Associated Press |
ATHENS, Greece — Greece's statistics agency says unemployment rose to 25.4 percent in August, increasing from 24.8 percent in July as the country struggles through a deep recession.
The numbers mark a significant leap from the 18.4 percent jobless rate in the same month last year. More than 1.2 million people in this country of barely 10 million are now unemployed, the statistics agency said Thursday.
More than half — 58 percent — of all young people aged 15-24 are unemployed, the figures showed.
The numbers were released a day after Greece's Parliament narrowly passed a deeply unpopular austerity bill that will further cut salaries and pensions.
The approval of the measures was a key step for Greece to be given the next installment of its vital bailout loans.
