Belgian unemployment up

2 March 2004

BRUSSELS – The number of people out of work in Belgium rose in January, bucking a general European trend of stable jobless totals, the European statistical office Eurostat announced on Tuesday.

According to Eurostat, the number of people out of work in Belgium rose by 0.1 percent in January to 8.4 percent.

The news confirms a worrying trend in Belgium, which has had one of Europe’s fastest rising employment rates over the past two years.

Since the beginning of 2002, the number of people without work in Belgium has increased by 1.4 percent. The only EU countries that have experienced a bigger increase are Portugal and Denmark.

Monday’s confirmation that unemployment is still on the rise in Belgium will cause particular concern because the country seems to be out of step with most other EU states.

Eurostat said on Monday that the EU’s overall jobless rate remained stable at 8 percent between December 2003 and January 2004.

Subject: Belgian news