Greek unemployment grew to 8.9 pct of the workforce in the second quarter of 2009, from 7.2 percent in the corresponding period in 2008, the National Statistical Service said on Thursday.
The statistics service, in a report, said unemployment was higher among women (12.5 pct) and less among men (6.3 pct). The number of unemployed people totaled 442,563 in the second quarter of the year, of which 73.7 pct were seeling full time jobs. The unemployment rate in the age group 15-29 was 17.7 pct, in the 30-44 group 8.0 pct and in the 45-64 group 5.4 pct.
The statistics service said long-term unemployed people (those seeking jobs for more than 12 months) accounted for 43 pct of total unemployed. Western Macedonia (12.3 pct), southern Aegean (11.7 pct), Epirus (10.9 pct) and Central Greece (10.5 pct) recorded the highest unemployment rates, while northern Aegean (6.4 pct), Peloponese (7.5 pct) and Attica and Thessaly (8.2 pct each) the lowest rates.
