Jobless rise adds to eurozone concerns

Eurozone unemployment surged to a record level in March 2012, highlighting the region’s weakening economy in the face of fiscal austerity measures and its increasing divergence from the US.

Joblessness across the 17-country region hit 10.9% of the workforce, the highest since the euro was launched in 1999, with much of the increase focused on crisis-hit southern Europe, particularly Spain, and among the young.

ESO: Background information: Europe's army of 'underemployed' workers grows http://www.europeansources.info/record/europes-army-of-underemployed-workers-grows/

ESO: Background information: Eurozone unemployment reaches near 15-year high http://www.europeansources.info/record/eurozone-unemployment-reaches-near-15-year-high/

BBC News, 2.5.12: Eurozone jobless rate hits record high http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17921071

EUObserver, 2.5.12: Eurozone unemployment hits new record http://euobserver.com/19/116112

Eurostat: Press Release: STAT/12/67: March 2012 Euro area unemployment rate at 10.9% EU27 at 10.2% http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=STAT/12/67&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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