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THERE ARE NOW over 26 million people unemployed across the 27-member European Union according to new statistics out today.
The Eurostat agency has said that the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in the eurozone countries – comprising of 17 nations including Ireland – is at 11.9 per cent for January of this year, a record high of nearly 19 million people.
In the wider EU the rate is at 10.8 per cent which is up from 10.1 per cent in January 2012. Eurozone unemployment is up from 10.8 per cent in the same month last year.
Some 201,000 joined the jobless queues in the eurozone in January, and 222,000 in the EU, when compared with December.
The highest rates were in Greece whose unemployment rate is at 27 per cent – though this figure is from November – and in Spain, on 26.2 per cent.
This graph (click here for a larger image) charts unemployment in the eurozone and European Union since the turn of the century:
Ireland’s unemployment rate is recorded at being at 14.7 per cent – based on data at the end of the third quarter of 2012 – although figures released by the Central Statistics Office this week showed the Irish unemployment was at 14.2 per cent at the end of 2012.
The lowest unemployment rates are in Austria with 4.9 per cent, and Germany and Luxembourg, both with 5.3 per cent.
Compared with a year ago the unemployment rate increased in 19 member states and fell in seven while it remained stable in one, Denmark.
The largest falls in unemployment were in Estonia (11.1 per cent to 9.9 per cent), Latvia (15.5 per cent to 14.4 per cent), Romania (7.4 per cent to 6.6 per cent) and the United Kingdom (8.3 per cent to 7.7 per cent).
While the biggest increases were in Greece (20.8 per cent to 27.0 per cent), Cyprus (9.9 per cent to 14.7 per cent), Portugal (14.7 per cent to 17.6 per cent) and Spain (23.6 per cent to 26.2 per cent).
Eurozone youth unemployment is put at 24.2 per cent in January, up from 21.9 per cent in January 2012. In the EU, under-25 unemployment rose to 23.6 per cent from 22.4 per cent.
For Greece, the youth unemployment rate in January is at 59.4 per cent, with Spain on 55.5 per cent and Italy 38.7 per cent.
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We do have a decent health care system. Health care is available to those without insurance. Living in the U.S I see that now. Health and education were the two things that I would have complained about myself in the past. It’s crazy that a visit to a GP here can cost up to 200 dollars! Yes our health care system is a bit messed up but at least it’s available to everyone.
I pity anyone with a serious illness in this country with the state of the health system. The government need to get their act together and start treating people with the dignity and respect they deserve and not with the disgraceful entity they call our health service.
Without the shadow of a doubt the stress that people are going through will throw up a lot of problems in the future for them ,it’s causing people to do away with themselves as is well known
Probably caused by stress and who do we blame for that?
Who really knows what’s the cause but I’d say a good healthy diet couldn’t hurt.
Smoking, lack of exercise, high fat diets, alcohol intake, lack of fruit and veg.
If all this things were addressed the rates of chronic disease would plummet.
And sugar consumption needs to be reduced in a big way especially amongst the female population. The oul ones love cakes and biscuits but good luck trying to change their ways
Soooooooo….we’re saying that rates of smoking and drinking and poor diet have increased in Ireland? Not likely…more likely caused thru increased stresses due to the economics issues of the past decade+…
Water flouridation?
for the thumb downers, report commissioned and then buried by ff and the greens when the were busy ruining the country, if you haven’t got time just read the conclusions and recommendations http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/167323404?secret_password=syvmvagq062jpi6lc6f&width=982
Interesting that you highlight a report which concludes that the only group potentially at risk are infants being bottle fed, and the article specifically refers to the over 50s.
Can you please offer ONE peer reviewed study which shows that fluoride as prescribed in the concentrations in Irish water (0.6-0.8 ppm) is unsafe?
If you want to talk to an expert on the subject I refer you to Aisling FitzGibbon.She will answer all your questions, should you have any https://m.facebook.com/TheGirlAgainstFluoride?id=401743916552576&_rdr
And are newborn babies being bottle fed not some of the most vulnerable? Their bodies and brains are still growing yet they are being contaminated by fluoride.
These are the ones we should be protecting the most
Having gone through severe stress myself in my twenties for a variety of reasons as a result in my 30s and high blood pressure and anxiety. I know so many others going through similar stress and it doesnt look good for the future as a nation
That’s the thing with stress it can manifest itself in many ways. I get stomach ulcers. At least with those I don’t have to take medication daily.
More than half of Irish people over 50 with two or more chronic diseases…this is a scary statistic. Whilst I’m not familiar enough to comment on our health system, I think it’s time we started looking at prevention rather than cure. That is what we put into our bodies, our food. Although we obviously make our own choices and many times we make very poor choices, we are not being helped by government and media.
Unfortunately there is big money for our government and food companies in making us choose unhealthy products and there is little appetite to inform us about the clear dangers. Eating a diet full of processed foods that are full of sugar and have additives such as high fructose corn syrup and aspartame are a recipe for disaster. These foods lack any real nutrients, are damaging to our bodies. We should be eating more natural foods that help maintain optimum health. It should be no surprise that after years of eating sub standard food, that people will begin to suffer a variety of health problems.
Another statistic from the summer stated that 31.8 per cent of our 7-8 year old are overweight or obese. Regardless of what shape the health care system is in, it is clear that we are breeding a nation of overweight, unhealthy, people who will unfortunately face numerous problems down the line.
Don’t want to have to visit the doctor as often ? Well stop eating rubbish and feeding your children rubbish and eat natural real food.
Chronic austerity and political flatulance.
An excellent case for the introduction of free GP care across the board, or at least for the under 40′s. Illness later in life costs the state a lot more and could easily be reduced by some basic socialising of the entry level health system to catch disease early on.
I’ve never understood the groups against water fluoridation. Everything the groups have to say that I’ve read have no scientific backing unless I’ve missed them in which case please show me so I can read. In the long run I think there are added benefits to it. But if you have a peer reviewed article or anything else you may find on pubmed about the topic I’d love to read it.
My friends house in North Dublin. The water from the tap is disgusting. Like drinking a cup of bleach. Gives you cramps. Fingal County Council.
I think there are benefits too. The FDA called it “…the greatest public health initiative of the 20th century.” But I would still like to see some kind of scientific study into the long term effects of fluoridation.
What good is the extended life span we are always being told sets is apart from our ancestors if we spend that extended time sick?
Longer life expectancy is usually pushed as our biggest achievement, the morbidity rate (ie – rate of chronic diseases) has raised just as much, but it’s not talked about enough.
Wonder what they will suggest, more low fat, high sugar and chemical laden diets? More drugs?
At age 64 I discovered a way to completely reverse my Diabetes Type 2.
Wrote a short eBooklet on how I discovered it.
Available free on Kindle Prime – “The Walnut Cure for Diabetes Type 2″
Hope it works for you or friend or family member.
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