Spanish unemployment hits almost 23%

The number of Spaniards without jobs rose by more than half a million in 2011 to reach 5.27m, or 22.85% of the workforce, in the final quarter of the year, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

The figures, not seasonally adjusted, confirmed Spain’s jobs record as by far the worst among big eurozone economies following the collapse of the Spanish housing construction bubble from 2007.

ESO: Background information: Spain joblessness rises as reforms loom http://www.europeansources.info/record/spain-joblessness-rises-as-reforms-loom/

Spain: Instituto Nacional de Estasidistica (INE) http://www.ine.es/welcoing.htm

Spain: Ministry of Labour and Immigration http://www.mtin.es/en/index.htm

BBC News, 27.1.12: Spain's unemployment total passes five million http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-16754600

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