Ireland's unemployment rate rises to 14.3 percent
Associated Press, Dublin, Ireland | Thu, 08/04/2011 7:43 PM
The Republic of Ireland's unemployment rate has risen to 14.3 percent, underscoring the weakness of its economic recovery.
Thursday's report from the Central Statistics Agency says more than 470,000 people claimed unemployment benefits in Ireland last month. That's 12,300 more than in June, when the rate stood at 14.2 percent.
Ireland has the third-worst level of joblessness in the 17-nation eurozone. The rate in Spain is 21 percent, Greece 15 percent.
The Irish last year received an international loan deal worth a potential euro67.5 billion ($96 billion) to cover their deficit and bank-bailout bills through 2013. The economy has resumed tepid growth this year on the back of strong exports by multinational high-tech companies based in Ireland.
