Record unemployment in Brussels

Figures compiled by the Brussels news site 'brusselnieuws.be' show that unemployment in the Brussels Region is at an all time high. At the end of June 106,952 people were out of work and receiving full unemployment benefit. 21.7% of the active population can't find a job.

At present 21.7% of the active population of the Brussels Region cannot find a job.

Benoît Cerexhe (Francophone Christian democrat), the Regional Minister charged with employment says that the latest rise is due to the delay in which the economic crisis is impacting on the regional economy.

Arctiris, the Brussels employment mediation service, adds that a definitive analysis of the figures is not yet complete, but says that a contributory factor may be the fact that many school-leavers registered in June and this is earlier than usual.

Arctiris believes that the economic crisis may have motivated more youngsters to register early.

In May Mr Cerexhe was pleased to report a fall in the regional unemployment figures. Nearly 12,000 people lost their jobs in Brussels in June. 7,800 people found a job.

The last record high of 21.3% was recorded in September of 2006.

The situation in Brussels contrasts with that of Belgium's two other regions. Both in Flanders and Wallonia unemployment levels fell. The decrease was most pronounced in Wallonia.

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