The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
August 9, 2013

Greek Unemployment Reaches Record 27.6%; Youth Unemployment at 65% 
-------------------------------------------------------------------


 
In news from Europe, the unemployment rate in Greece has reached a new
high of 27.6 percent. The job market is even worse for young people.
Nearly 65 percent of those between 15 and 24 years old are out of work.
The latest unemployment data in Greece was released as President Obama
was meeting with Greek's prime minister in Washington.

President Obama: "Greece is going through incredible challenges, and so
far the prime minister has taken some very bold and difficult actions to
initiate the structural reforms that can help reduce the debt burden
that Greece experiences, but, even more importantly, can unleash the
incredible talents of the Greek people so that they are effectively
competing in this new world economy."

While President Obama praised Greece's economic initiatives, residents
of Greece say years of tax rises, wages and pensions cuts continue to
take their toll.

Yannis, unemployed Greek worker: "The business I worked for has closed.
I am 66 years old, unemployed, and will not get a pension. I am looking
in the garbage to find something to eat."

 

.