Unemployment at 24.4 pct in fourth quarter of 2015

Greece’s unemployment rate stood at 24.4 percent in the 4th quarter of 2015, compared to 24 percent in the previous quarter and 26.1 percent in the corresponding quarter in 2014, a survey published by the Hellenic Statistical Authority, ELSTAT, revealed on Thursday.

According to the report, the number of unemployed reached 3.641.682 people, while those defined as unemployed came to 1.174.658 people. The figures pointed to a 0.8 decrease in the number of those employed compared to the previous quarter and an increase of 3 percent compared to the 4th quarter of 2014.

Female unemployment stood at 28.4 percent against 21.2 percent in the male department, while youth unemployment in the 15-24 age group came to 49 percent.

Western Macedonia in northwestern Greece showed the country’s highest unemployment rate (32.2 percent), while the lowest was detected in the Southern Aegean (11.4 percent).