Press Release: Employment: Quarterly Review shows persistent labour market and social divergence between Member States

The employment and social situation in the EU remained very serious in the second quarter of 2012 with unemployment rising overall but also displaying significant differences between Member States, households' financial situation deteriorating and child poverty increasing. The EU has been in recession or on the verge of it since late 2011 and the overall economic sentiment is at its lowest level in three years.

In this context, job-finding prospects remain poor compared to pre-crisis years. Greece and Austria recorded the highest number of hours worked by full-time employed persons in the first quarter of 2012, while Finland, Italy and Ireland recorded the lowest number. These are amongst the main findings of the latest Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review.

European Commission: Memo/12/720: Employment and Social Situation Quarterly Review: frequently asked questions http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/720&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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