27 countries in the European Union, 26 million people out of work

Numbers out today show that unemployment rose again across Europe, leaving nearly 26 million people out of work across the 27-country European Union. The continuing euro zone crisis and government cutbacks are fueling high joblessness. The unemployment rate in the EU rose to 10.7% in October, up from 10.6% a month earlier. In the 17-country euro zone bloc, unemployment increased to 11.7% in October, up from 11.6% in September.

The lowest rates were recorded in Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, and the Netherlands, while the highest rates were in Spain and Greece, where more than a quarter of the populations are out of work.