Unemployment affects young the worst

The number of unemployed people in Iceland increased by around 200 in the first three months of the year compared to the first quarter of 2010. An average of 13,700 people were searching for work in January, February and March and unemployment measured 9.9 percent among men and 5.5 percent among women.

Unemployment is a more serious problem among the young, with 15.9 percent of 16-24 year-olds on the job market unemployed. The figure is 6.2 percent among 24-54 year-olds and 6.7 among the 55-74 age group. The figures cover those looking for work and do not cover people who do not want a job.

Unemployment measured 8.5 percent in the Reykjavik region and 6.5 percent elsewhere in Iceland, Visir.is reported.

In the first quarter of 2011, 3,800 people had been unemployed for 12 months or longer — which is 27.8 percent of the total number of unemployed people. In the first quarter of 2010 there were 2,500 long-term unemployed.

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Source: IceNews, Daily news from Iceland