Cyprus’ long-term unemployment rate below EU average

Cyprus’ long-term employment rate, that being those who have been unemployed for 12 months or more, is below the European Union average, according to the EU’s statistical agency Eurostat.

At present, Cyprus’ long-term unemployment rate is 1.8 per cent, lower than the EU average of 2.1 per cent, despite the fact that the EU average is the lowest it has been since 2009.

Greece has the EU’s highest long-term unemployment rate, at 6.2 per cent, with Spain and Italy rounding off the top three with rates of 4.3 per cent and 4.2 per cent respectively.

At the other end of the scale, Denmark and the Netherlands had the joint-lowest rate, at 0.5 per cent, while the Czech Republic, Malta, and Poland all shared joint third place, with a rate of 0.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, youth unemployment in the EU, measured among those aged between 15 and 29 years old, stood at 6.3 per cent, though with great variation between member states.

Sweden has the highest youth unemployment rate in the bloc, at 10.9 per cent, while Spain and Greece round off the top three, with rates of 10.8 per cent and 9.8 per cent respectively.

The Czech Republic has the lowest rate, at 2.4 per cent, while Bulgaria finds itself in second place with a rate of 3.2 per cent, and Germany rounds off the top three with a rate of 3.3 per cent.