In March, the overall unemployment rate reached 10% in the eurozone although there were large differences amongst the 16 countries concerned.

Spain is in the worst position, with a jobless rate of 19.1%, twice that seen in 2008. Amongst young workers, the situation is even worse with a rate of unemployment that has reached more than 40%.

The Netherlands has been the least affected country (4.1%), while Slovakia, the Irish Republic, Portugal Greece and France have now got a jobless rate above the eurozone average.

Source: BBC News, 27.05.2010