Greek unemployment rate fell to 17.2 pct in May

Greek unemployment rate fell to 17.2 pct of the workforce in May from 19.4 pct in May 2018 and 17.4 pct in April this year, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) said in a report on Thursday.

The statistics service said that the number of unemployed totaled 815,166 in May, down 108,124 from May 2018 (a decline of 11.7 pct) and down 10,902 compared with April (a decline of 1.3 pct). The number of employed people was 3,922,991, up 2.1 pct from May 2018 and up 0.2 pct from April. The unemployment rate among women was 21.2 pct in May from 24.1 pct a year earlier, while among men it fell to 14 pct from 15.6 pct, respectively. The 15-24 age group recorded the highest unemployment rate (although it fell to its lowest levels since the crisis began) at 33.8 pct in May from 38.9 pct in May 2018, followed by the 25-34 age group (23.6 pct from 24 pct), the 35-44 age group (15.3 pct from 17.8 pct), the 45-54 age group (14.2 pct from 16.4 pct), the 55-64 age group (13.3 pct from 15.4 pct) and the 65-74 age group (11 pct from 11.4 pct).

Among the country's regions, Epirus-West Macedonia recorded the highest unemployment rate (20.2 pct in May from 23.4 pct in May 2018), followed by Macedonia-Thrace (18.9 pct from 19.8 pct), Peloponese-West Greece-Ionian Islands (18 pct from 18.7 pct), Thessaly-Central Greece (17.4 pct from 19 pct), Attica (17 pct from 20 pct), Aegean (13.2 pct from 18.9 pct) and Crete (9.3 pct from 13.3 pct).