Greek December unemployment eases to 12.8%, lowest since July 2010
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ATHENS, Feb 16 (Reuters) – Greece’s jobless rate dropped to 12.8% in December from an upwardly revised 13.4% in the previous month, the lowest rate since July 2010, data from statistics service ELSTAT showed on Wednesday.
Seasonally adjusted data showed 596,067 people were officially unemployed, with those aged under 24 the hardest hit.
The jobless rate for young people aged 15-24 dropped to 27% in December from 33.5% in the same month in 2020.
After hitting a record high of 27.8% in September 2013, Greece’s overall jobless rate has been falling but remains the highest in the euro zone.
Joblessness affected women more than men, with the respective rates in December at 16.2% and 10%.
Greece’s economic rebound from the pandemic was helped by a strong performance in tourism in the third quarter, with the country’s annual growth rate remaining in double digits as consumer spending and investment stayed robust.
Seasonally adjusted data showed gross domestic product grew 2.7% from a downwardly revised 2.1% growth rate in the second quarter and at an annual 13.4% clip after an upwardly revised 16.6% pace in the previous quarter.
(Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; Editing by Alex Richardson)
