VZCZCXRO1510
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBS #0321/01 0601537
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291537Z FEB 08
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
RUEHC/DOL WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000321 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DOL FOR BLS AND ILAB 
TREASURY FOR IMI 
STATE FOR DRL/IL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ELAB EUN
SUBJECT:  EU UNEMPLOYMENT STABLE AT 6.8 PERCENT; EURO ZONE RATE ALSO 
UNCHANGED AT 7.1 PERCENT 
 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY.  The aggregate unemployment rate for 
the EU-27 was stable at 6.8 percent in January 2008, according to 
data published by the EU Commission's Statistical Office (EUROSTAT) 
on February 29.  Unemployment in the euro zone (the fifteen EU 
countries participating in the euro - membership enlarged to Cyprus 
and Malta on January 2008 was also stable at 7.2 percent.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  With seasonal adjustment and compensation for differences in 
national statistical methods, the 
unemployment rate in the EU-27 stood at 6.8 percent 
in January 2007, unchanged from the previous month and down from 7.5 
percent in January 2007.  The unemployment rate for the euro zone 
stood at 7.1 percent in January 2008, unchanged from December 2007 
(comparison based on EU-15, membership effective since January 1, 
2008) and down from 7.7 percent in January 2007. 
 
¶3.  The lowest monthly rates compiled by EUROSTAT from the EU-27 
were recorded in the Netherlands (2.9 percent, January 2008) and 
Denmark (3.1 percent, December 2007).  The highest rate was recorded 
in Slovakia (10.4 percent, January 2008). 
 
¶4.  EUROSTAT noted that twenty-four countries among 
the EU-27 recorded a decrease in their unemployment 
rate over a year and three an increase.  The most significant 
decreases (January-to-January comparison) occurred in Poland (from 
11.1 percent to 8.6 percent), Bulgaria (from 7.8 percent to 6.2 
percent) and Latvia (6.6 percent to 5.0 percent).  The highest 
increase was recorded in Estonia (from 4.8 percent to 5.6 percent). 
 
¶5.  Based on EUROSTAT estimates, male unemployment 
reached 6.3 percent in January 2008 for the EU-27 and 6.4 percent 
for the euro zone, down by 0.6 percentage point and 0.4 percentage 
point 
respectively when compared to January 2007.  The female rate over 
the same period decreased to 7.4 percent for the EU-27 and to 7.9 
percent for the euro zone, minus 0.8 percentage point and minus 0.9 
percent respectively over the twelve-month period. 
 
¶6.  Unemployment rates among young people under 25 
ranged from 5.5 percent in the Netherlands (January 2008) and 7.9 
percent in Slovenia (fourth quarter of 2007) to 22.6 percent in 
Greece and 21.2 percent in Romania (third quarter of 2007).  The 
rate for this age group in January 2007 was estimated at 14.7 
percent for the EU-27 and 14.2 percent for the euro zone, compared 
to 16.0 percent (minus 1.3 percentage point) and 15.2 percent (minus 
1.0 percentage point) respectively in January 2007. 
 
¶7.  EUROSTAT estimated that 16.1 million were 
unemployed in the EU-27 in January 2007 (10.9 million in the euro 
zone).  Following is the breakdown of unemployment rates in 
ascending order for the individual EU member states: 
 
(Seasonally-adjusted) 
(January 2008 unless otherwise indicated) 
 
Netherlands  2.9 
Denmark  3.1 (December 2007) 
Cyprus   3.6 
Slovenia  4.1 
Austria   4.2 
Lithuania          4.5 
Luxembourg   4.6 
Czech Republic 4.7 
Ireland   4.7 
Latvia   5.0 
UK   5.1 (November 2007) 
Estonia  5.6 
Sweden     5.6 (provisional) 
Malta   5.8 
Italy   6.0 (third quarter 2007) 
Bulgaria  6.2 
Finland  6.4 
Romania  6.5 
Belgium   7.0 
Hungary  7.2 
Portugal   7.5 (x) 
Germany            7.6 
France      7.8 
Greece             8.2 (third quarter 2007) 
Poland             8.6 
Spain              8.8 
Slovakia          10.4 
Euro zone  7.1 
EU-27     6.8 
 
 
BRUSSELS 00000321  002 OF 002 
 
 
(x) Estimates for Portugal have been revised, due to a change of 
methodology. 
 
¶8.  The monthly rates and numbers of unemployed are 
estimated and based on data from the EU labor force 
survey.  The estimated rates may differ from 
national unemployment rates due to differences in 
methods and definitions of unemployment.  Unemployed 
people according to ILO criteria are those aged 15 
and over who: 
 
-- Are without work; 
 
-- Are available to start work within the next two 
weeks; and 
 
-- Have actively sought employment at some time 
during the previous four weeks. 
 
WOHLERS