Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRUSSELS670
2007-02-28 16:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USEU Brussels
Cable title:  

EU UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO 7.5 PERCENT; EURO

Tags:  ELAB EUN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0623
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHBS #0670/01 0591650
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281650Z FEB 07
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
RUEHC/DOL WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000670 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOL FOR BLS AND ILAB
TREASURY FOR IMI
STATE FOR DRL/IL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB EUN
SUBJECT: EU UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO 7.5 PERCENT; EURO
ZONE RATE DOWN TO 7.4 PERCENT


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000670

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DOL FOR BLS AND ILAB
TREASURY FOR IMI
STATE FOR DRL/IL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB EUN
SUBJECT: EU UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO 7.5 PERCENT; EURO
ZONE RATE DOWN TO 7.4 PERCENT



1. SUMMARY. The aggregate unemployment rate for
the EU-27 was down to 7.5 percent in January 2007,
according to data published by the EU Commission's
Statistical Office (EUROSTAT) on February 28. The
unemployment rate for the euro zone (the thirteen EU
countries participating in the euro) was down to 7.4
percent. Both rates showed a marginal improvement
(0.1 percentage point) compared to the previous
month. END SUMMARY.


2. With seasonal adjustment and compensation for
differences in national statistical methods, the EU-
27 unemployment rate stood at 7.5 percent in January
2007, down from 7.6 percent in December 2006 and 8.3
percent in January 2006. The unemployment rate for
the euro zone stood at 7.4 percent in January 2007,
down from 7.5 percent in December 2006 and from 8.3
percent in January 2006. Though masking conflicting
trends in the individual countries (more decreases
than increases),the month-to-month decrease in both
the EU-27 and euro zone rates appear to be chiefly
due to the continuing improvement in the situation
of the German labor market.


3. The lowest rates compiled from the EU-27 for
January 2007 were recorded in Denmark (3.2 percent),
the Netherlands (3.6 percent) and Estonia (4.2
percent). The highest rates (January 2007 rates,
unless otherwise indicated) were recorded in Poland
(12.6 percent),Slovakia (11.0 percent) and Greece
(8.7 percent, third quarter 2006).


4. EUROSTAT noted that ry comparicent in the Ne4was estimated at 16.8 percent
for the EU-7 actively in
January 2006.


7. EUROSTAT estimated that 17.5 million were
unemployedin the EU-27 in January 2007 (11.1
million intes in ascending order
for the individual EU member states:

(Seasonally-adjusted)
(January 2007 unless otherwise indicated)

Denmark 3.2 (December 2006)
Netherlands 3.6
Estonia 4.2
Ireland 4.4

BRUSSELS 00000670 002 OF 002


Austria 4.5
Cyprus 4.7
Luxembourg 5.0
Slovenia 5.0
UK 5.4 (November 2006)
Latvia 6.1
Lithuania 6.3
Czech Republic 6.6
Italy 6.7 (third quarter 2006)
Malta 6.8
Finland 7.0
Portugal 7.2
Romania 7.5
Germany 7.7 (provisional)
Belgium 7.8
Hungary 7.9
France 8.4
Bulgaria 8.5
Spain 8.6
Greece 8.7 (third quarter 2006)
Slovakia 11.0
Poland 12.6
Sweden N/A

Euro zone 7.4
EU-27 7.5


8. The monthly rates and numbers of unemployed are
estimated and based on data from the annual EU labor
force survey. The estimated rates may differ from
national unemployment rates due to differences in
methods and definitions of unemployment. Unemployed
people according to ILO criteria are those aged 15
and over who:

-- Are without work;

-- Are available to start work within the next two
weeks; and

-- Have actively sought employment at some time
during the previous four weeks.

McKINLEY