Youth unemploment in Spain and Greece the highest in Europe

Over half of young Spaniards and Greeks are currently unemployed. In western Macedonia, an area in the north of Greece they are experiencing 72.5 per cent youth unemployment rate according to official European statistics released yesterday, with some Spanish regions not far behind. Both economies are in deep and prolonged recession.

Ceuta, the North African autonomous Spanish enclave, reported that 70.6 per cent of 18-24 year olds were unemployed, and seven Spanish regions registered over 60 per cent.

The average rate of youth unemployment in the EU is 22.9 per cent, but the strongest and weakest economies in Europe display enormous differences.

Austria and Germany in the centre of the EU, have twelve regions between them where youth unemployment is below six per cent. The worst figures to be seen are in the Mediterranean countries.