Eurozone unemployment stays at record 11 per cent

Unemployment in the 17 countries that use the euro remain at a record high 11 per cent in April, with rates continuing to climb in struggling Spain, Portugal and Greece.

Friday's figures came in the wake of last week's European Union summit, where some leaders called for measures to boost growth and employment to offset the impact of stringent austerity policies.

Experts argue that targeted measures could help get people, especially youngsters, off the unemployment lines.

In recession-hit Spain, unemployment spiked to 24.3 per cent, the worst rate in the EU. It was up 0.2 points since March, and 3.6 per centage points compared to last year. Youth unemployment ballooned to a staggering 51.5 per cent, up from 45 per cent last year.