Unemployment at 16.3pct in Q2

Unemployment in Greece jumped to 16.3 percent in the second quarter of the year from 11.8 percent in the same quarter in 2010 and against 15.9 percent in the first quarter of 2011, the independent Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) said on Thursday.
ELSTAT, in a Labor Force Survey, said that in the 2nd Quarter of 2011 the number of employed amounted to 4,156,336 persons while the number of unemployed amounted to 810,821. The unemployment rate was 16.3% compared with 15.9% in the previous quarter, and 11.8% in the corresponding quarter of 2010.
The number of employed persons decreased by 0.9% compared with the previous quarter, and by 6.1% compared with the 2nd Quarter of 2010. The number of unemployed persons increased by 2.3% compared with the previous quarter and by 36.5% compared with the 2nd Quarter of 2010.