Business

Eurozone jobs data

Eurozone jobs data

By Agence France Presse

BRUSSELS: Eurozone unemployment dropped to its lowest level in four years in November, official data showed on Thursday, beating analyst expectations amid lingering doubts about the strength of the economy in Europe. The improved jobs picture comes as the 19-country single currency bloc is still stuck in a bout of low inflation and weak growth despite unprecedented stimulus measures by the European Central Bank. The European Union’s Eurostat agency said eurozone unemployment fell to 10.5 per cent in November from a revised 10.6 per cent in October, hitting the lowest level since October 2011. Joblessness in the eurozone has gradually fallen from the record 12.2 per cent reached in September 2013 as the damaging eurozone debt crisis peaked out. However, it still remains way above the 7.5 per cent levels seen during the economic boom leading up to the financial crash in 2008.