There are both encouraging and discouraging aspects of the situation of unemployment in the European Union. Eurostat the EU statistics bureau has published the figures relating to March 2005, according to which the unemployment rate in the Euro zone is equivalent to 8.9% of the workforce, a tenth of a percentage point higher than the figure both for February 2005 and March of the previous year. As regards the 25-member EU, the rate of 8.9% remains unchanged over the previous month, but in slight improvement if compared with the 9% of March 2004. Poland (18.1%) still languishes at the bottom of the league table, followed by Slovakia (15.9%), Greece and Spain which both register a rate of 10.2%. Ireland (4.3%), Luxembourg (4.5%) and Austria (4.6%) are confirmed as the so-called virtuous countries in terms of unemployment. For further information, consult the website http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int
