Unemployment in Greece jumped to 20.7 percent in the 4th quarter of 2011, up from 17.7 percent in the third quarter of the year and from 14.2 percent in the corresponding quarter in 2010, the independent Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) said on Thursday, with the mean unemployment rate for the year 2011 reaching 17.6 percent and the number of unemployed shooting to 1,025,877 persons.

ELSTAT, in a report, said that in the 4th Quarter of 2011 the number of employed amounted to 3,932,790 persons, while the number of unemployed amounted to 1,025,877. The unemployment rate was 20.7% compared with 17.7% in the previous quarter, and 14.2% in the corresponding quarter of 2010.

The number of employed persons decreased by 3.6% compared with the previous quarter, and by 8.5% compared with the 4th Quarter of 2010. The number of unemployed persons increased by 16.8% compared with the previous quarter and by 44.1% compared with the 4th Quarter of 2010.

The unemployment rate for females (24.5%) is considerably higher than the unemployment rate for males (17.8%) while, in a comparison of the different age groups, the highest unemployment rate is recorded among young people in the age bracket of 15-29 years (39.5%). For young females, the unemployment rate is 44.9%.

As regards the educational attainment level, the unemployment rate is higher among persons who have not attended school (30.9%), for those who did not completed ISCED 1 level programs (28.0%) and those who have completed the ISCED 5B (23.1%). The lowest unemployment rates are observed among persons who have completed ISCED 5AS and ISCED 6 programs (11.9%), and among those who have completed ISCED 5A (14.8%).

Also, 90.8% of unemployed persons are looking for a full time job as employees. More specifically, 46.8% of those looking for job as employees are looking exclusively for a full time job,

while 46.4% are looking for full time job, but, if needed, would accept to work part time.

A significant part of the unemployed persons (6.1%) did not accept a job offer, during the 4th Quarter of 2011, because of various reasons. The main reasons reported were:

a) the location of the job was not suitable (29.1%),

b) the wage was not satisfactory (26.0%),

c) the working hours were not convenient (16.2%).

The percentage of the "new" unemployed, that is the percentage of persons who entered the labour market for the first time is 24.0%. It is noted that the percentage of the "long term" unemployed, that is the percentage of persons that have been looking for a job for more than 1 year (irrespectively of being "new" or "old" unemployed), is 54.6%.

The unemployment rate is higher for persons of foreign nationality (25.2%) compared with those of Greek nationality (20.2%). Conversely, the percentage of the economically active persons with foreign nationality is much higher than the corresponding percentage for persons of Greek nationality (72.8% compared to 51.7%).

The geographical areas (NUTS II regions) with the highest unemployment rate are Western Macedonia (25.0%) and Sterea Ellas (23.8%). The lowest unemployment rates are observed in South Aegean (11.9%) and Ionian Islands (13.9%).

During the 4th Quarter of 2011, 81,587 persons who were unemployed one year ago found a job. During the same period, 37,631 persons who were inactive one year ago, got into employment. On the contrary, 218,401 persons who were working one year ago, during the 4th Quarter of 2011 are unemployed and 98,594 persons, who were working, are now inactive. In addition, 123,286 persons who were inactive one year ago, during the 4th Quarter of 2011 entered labour market and are searching for a job.

In an examination of changes in employment by different sector of economic activity, it is observed that compared to the 4th Quarter of 2010 there was a decrease in employment in all sectors.

In the primary sector the decrease was 7.0%, in the secondary 17.1% and the tertiary sector 6.4%.

The percentage of part time employment amounts to 7.1% of the total of the employed. The percentage of part timers who choose to work part time because they cannot find a full time job is 58.3%, while 8.0% choose a part time job for other personal or family reasons and 5.1% because they are looking after children or incapacitated adults. The percentage of employees is estimated at 63.0% of the total of the employed persons and is by far lower than the mean percentage of employees in the European Union which is 80%.