The number of unemployed in December was 49,000, Eurostat said in a statement on its website. In December 2016, the unemployment rate was 12.8%.

Unemployment among youths in September, which was the latest available figure for Cyprus, was marginally revised upwards to 25%, Eurostat said.

The average unemployment rate in December in the European Union and the euro area was 8.7% and 7.3% respectively, Eurostat said. Cyprus’ jobless ratio was the third highest in both the European Union and the euro area, beating Italy’s 10.8%. Greece and Spain had the highest unemployment rates with 20.7% and 16.4% respectively.

The lowest unemployment ratio in the EU was that of the Czech Republic with 2.3%, followed by the 3.6% rate in Germany and Malta, and Hungary’s 3.9%, according to Eurostat.

The unemployment ratio in Cyprus among males and females in December was 11.1% and 11.4% respectively, Eurostat said.

Source: Cyprus Mail