13/7/2011 00:00:00
The OECD area unemployment rate was steady at 8.1% in May, unchanged for the third consecutive month. The Euro area unemployment rate was also stable at 9.9% for the third consecutive month. Austria, Belgium, Luxemburg, Spain, Sweden and USA recorded a slight increase, even though the general trend is towards steadiness or slight decrease. Higher rates of unemployment have been recorded in Ireland (14%), Portugal (12.4%), Slovak Republic (13.3%) and Spain (20.9%). Actually in the OECD countries there are 44 million unemployed, decreasing compared to May 2010 though 12 millions more than in May 2008. According to OECD the unemployment rate in Italy remains at 8.1%, the same as in March.
