3 Apr 2012

Eurozone unemployment up

10:09 am on 3 April 2012

Unemployment across the eurozone edged higher in February to almost 11%.

That's the highest level since the introduction of the single currency in 1999.

Spain has the highest rate of 23.5%.

Italy was 9.3%. For those aged between 15 and 24 the rate was 31.9%.

The BBC reports the lowest unemployment rates were in Austria (4.2%), the Netherlands (4.9%) and Germany (5.7%).

Meanwhile, a separate report has confirmed that manufacturing activity in Europe shrank in February.

Economists say it's a further indicator the eurozone is probably in recession.