In October of 2012, the unemployment rate was ‘only’ 26.1%
In total there are currently 1.387.520 people unemployed in Greece while 3.597.779 have jobs or are self-employed. This compares to the 4.574.927 employed pre crisis and 372.578 unemployed. In other words since 2008 approximately one million people have lost their jobs and move to the unemployment lines – about one tenth of the total population.
The economically inactive population, as in those not in work and not searching for work, was 3.360.513 in October also rising from September by 11.686 people, or 0.3%.
According to the Hellenic Statistical Authority, the data over the past 4 months shows a ‘relative stability’ in the seasonally adjusted employment rates and cautions that many months of data are required to draw conclusions regarding trends. Nevertheless that the rate continues to tick upwards into ‘never-been-seen-before-in-recent-times’ territory is not good news for anyone, be they unemployed citizens or employed politicians.
Still Mr Samaras will at least be thankful that the figures were released today and not yesterday, when they might have cast a shadow over the inaugural celebrations for Greece’s EU Presidency.