Unemployment rates in the Eurozone and in the EU-25, calculated for January 2006, remain unchanged at respectively 8.3% and 8.5%, according to Eurostat (Statistics Office of the European Community). The figures are positive if compared with the situation in January 2005, where unemployment reached 8.8% in the area of the Euro and 8.9% in the Union as a whole. Ireland, Denmark and Holland are the only States to remain below the threshold of 5%. At the opposite end of the scale is the chronic unemployment crisis in Poland (17.2%) and Slovakia (15.8%). During the last twelve months, the most significant improvements were registered by Estonia (down from 8.9% to 6.2%) and by Spain; unemployment on the other hand has increased in Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Cyprus, United Kingdom and Portugal. Analysis by age group shows a more pronounced drop in the unemployment rate for the under 25, from 18.3% to 17.5% for the Eurozone and from 18.9% to 18.2% for the EU-25. The total unemployed in the EU is calculated at around 18.5 million citizens. For further info: http://epp.eurostat.cec.eu.int/pls/portal/docs/PAGE/PGP_PRD_CAT_PREREL/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006/PGE_CAT_PREREL_YEAR_2006_MONTH_03/3-01032006-FR-BP.PDF
