Updated on
Summary The data was published just as the country is deep in negotiations with international creditors.
Greeces jobless rate jumped to 23.6 percent in the second quarter of 2012 from 22.6 percent in the first quarter, official data showed on Thursday.The state statistics agency said that more than 1.16 million people were registered as unemployed.Those aged up to 24 are the hardest hit with a rate of 53.9 percent while those aged 25 to 29 also faced a very high 36.8 percent, in a country that is experiencing a fifth year of continuous recession.Women are also more severely affected, with unemployment reaching 27.3 percent compared to the mens 20.8 percent.In the southern island of Crete, unemployment jumped to 22.6 percent compared to the previous 13.4 percent in the second quarter of 2011.Similarly, in the region of Attica where Athens is situated the rate rose from 15.6 to 23.8 percent, while in the area of Sterea Ellada, in the middle of the country, the jobless rate went from 16.9 to 28.4 percent.Greece is trying to finalise an austerity programme of over 11.5 billion euros ($14.9 billion), as auditors representing the countrys international creditors are currently in Athens.The audit will determine whether the heavily indebted country will receive the next installment of its EU-IMF rescue loans that have been keeping its economy afloat.
