Eurozone unemployment falls to near 8-year low

AFP, BRUSSELS: Unemploy-ment in the eurozone fell in February to its lowest level since May 2009 as a hiring spree took hold despite uncertainty over Brexit, EU figures showed Monday.
The Eurostat statistics agency said the jobless rate in the 19-nation single currency area fell to 9.5 per cent, with sustained drops in Spain and Portugal also a factor.
During the worst of the debt crisis that ravaged mainly the southern countries in the eurozone, unemployment peaked at 12.1 per cent.
In total, the number of eurozone unemployed has come down by almost four million from a peak of 19.3 million in April 2013.
Data firm Markit meanwhile reported that factory orders in the eurozone were fueling the recovery in jobs.
In its closely watched survey, Markit said the eurozone manufacturing PMI hit 56.2 points in March, up from 55.4 in February, the fastest growth in six years.

Eurozone unemployment falls to near 8-year low

AFP, BRUSSELS: Unemploy-ment in the eurozone fell in February to its lowest level since May 2009 as a hiring spree took hold despite uncertainty over Brexit, EU figures showed Monday. The Eurostat statistics agency said the jobless rate in the 19-nation single currency area fell to 9.5 per cent, with sustained drops in Spain and Portugal also a factor. During the worst of the debt crisis that ravaged mainly the southern countries in the eurozone, unemployment peaked at 12.1 per cent. In total, the number of eurozone unemployed has come down by almost four million from a peak of 19.3 million in April 2013. Data firm Markit meanwhile reported that factory orders in the eurozone were fueling the recovery in jobs. In its closely watched survey, Markit said the eurozone manufacturing PMI hit 56.2 points in March, up from 55.4 in February, the fastest growth in six years.