Eastern Slovakia is among the top ten for unemployment in the European Union, according to figures published by the EU's statistical agency Eurostat.
The unemployment rate in Eastern Slovakia averaged 21.8 percent for 2003, the tenth-highest figure among EU regions.
Unemployment across the EU25 averaged 9.1 percent for 2003. Regional figures ranged from 2 percent in Bolzano/Bozen in Italy, to 31.8 percent in France's Reunion Island, the TASR news wire wrote.
Slovakia had two regions with a jobless rate above 18.2 percent (twice the EU average), the other being Central Slovakia with 20.5 percent.
Poland had 10 such regions, Germany five, France four, Italy three and Spain one.
The 2003 unemployment rate in Western Slovakia was 15.9 percent and in the Bratislava region 7.1 percent, according to Eurostat.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
