Unemployment Statistics

Unemployment statistics of different countries comprise of detailed quantitative and qualitative information regarding the status and nature of unemployment in a country. A detailed historical outline of a country’s unemployment rates can be obtained from unemployment statistics. These sets of information reveal important insights into the reason of unemployment and remedial measures for the same.

Unemployment statistics of different countries comprise of detailed quantitative and qualitative information regarding the status and nature of unemployment in a country. A detailed historical outline of a country’s unemployment rates can be obtained from unemployment statistics. These sets of information reveal important insights into the reason of unemployment and remedial measures for the same.

One of the important insights obtained from unemployment statistics is the regional unemployment rates in a country. Unemployment in a country, in most cases, is not uniform across geographical regions. Unemployment statistics track unemployment records in different states, provinces, counties etc. Such information can be of strategic importance to the country in adopting remedial measures to bring down the level of unemployment in an economy. A particular region can have higher unemployment rates compared to the rest of the country due to lack of industrial growth or due to regional geographical limitations. In such a case the government can take up measures to increase employment opportunities in that region.

Unemployment statistics also provide insights into the demographic aspects of unemployment.

A third important aspect that can be deduced from unemployment statistics is the difference in unemployment rates of different ethical or religious segments of the population in a country. Many countries, mostly big secular democracies like USA, India etc. have a heterogeneous population with people of different communities. A particular community having higher unemployment rates compared to the others is not a healthy sign for the socio-economic development of the country. Unemployment statistics not only reveal the relevant information but may provide important insights into the reasons for the same, thereby helping the government to undertake proper remedial measures.

The comparative figures available from international unemployment statistics show a wide gap in unemployment rates of USA and European countries in 2004 and 2005. In 2004, while the unemployment rate in USA was 5.5%, France, Germany and Italy had unemployment rates of 9.2%, 9.8% and 8% respectively. Japan and UK, however, both having unemployment rates of 4.7% performed better than USA in terms of unemployment. In 2005, while unemployment rate in USA fell to 5.1 % Germany saw a rise in unemployment rate to 10.6%. Unemployment rate in France remained unchanged from the 2004 figure at 9.2% while there was a fall in Italy to 7.7%. There was a marginal rise in UK with the figure reaching 4.8%, while on the other hand there was a fall in unemployment rate in Japan to 4.4%

In 2006 the comparative figures stood as – USA – 4.6%, France – 9.2% (for the third successive year), Italy further down to 6.8%, Germany – 9.8%, Japan – 4.1% (continuing with the decline in unemployment rate) and U.K. -5.3%.

The comparative figures for different countries available from international unemployment statistics for 2007 are shown in the following table –

Countries	Jan 07	Apr 07	Jul 07	Oct 07
USA	4.6%	4.5%	4.7%	4.7%
France	8.7%	8.5%	8.3%	8.1%
Italy	6.2%	5.9%	NA	NA
Germany	8.8%	8.5%	8.4%	8.1%
Japan	4.0%	3.8%	3.6%	4.0%
UK	5.5%	5.3%	5.2%	NA

 Check out our Economic Statistics Database for World Unemployment Rate Statistics.