EU unemployment hits 25m

With an estimated 25.254m unemployed across the full European Union, which also includes non-euro heavyweights Britain and Poland, the figures add to concerns over a plunge back into recession for the eurozone and its nearest neighbours.

At 5.5pc, the unemployment rate was much lower in powerhouse Germany, as well as the neighbouring economies of Austria and the Netherlands, but more than one-in-four are still out of work in Spain, AFP reported.

Annual increases in Spain and Greece were easily the highest, and both countries, labouring under sovereign and banking debt crises, logged jobless rates among the key under-25s age-group of more than 50pc.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9511255/Eurozone-unemployment-hits-record-18m.html