Unemployment risks creating new divide in Europe

Associated Press ^ | Jan. 8, 2013 9:42 AM EST | Raf Casert and Don Melvin

[Olog-hai]

Record unemployment and fraying social welfare systems in southern Europe risk creating a new divide in the continent, the EU warned Tuesday, when figures showed joblessness across the 17 EU countries that use the euro hit a new high. Official data showed eurozone unemployment rose to 11.8 percent in November, the highest since the euro currency was founded in 1999. The rate was up from 11.7 percent in October and 10.6 percent a year earlier. …

The figures illustrate the daunting tasks confronting the European Union. While the threat of a collapse of the eurozone due to too much government debt may have receded, many national economies wallow in recession and joblessness continues to rise, creating poverty and fueling social discontent.

“A new divide is emerging between countries that seem trapped in a downward spiral of falling output, fast rising unemployment and eroding disposable incomes and those that have so far shown good or at least some resilience,” a statement from (EU Employment Commissioner Laszlo) Andor’s office said. …

[skeeter]

This was always the plan wasn't it - flood western societies with the unskilled and illiterate totally dependent upon the social safety net as job security for the State.

You can't cut their benefits, they'll burn your house down.

[Jumper]

The Unemployment figures from Europe vs. the USA are calculated differently; if they used our corrupt method they would have about 21% EU Zone-wide. You can be fired and have 5-years of paid salary over there, over there....

[Oatka]

I wonder who their next leaders will look like?