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OECD forecasts higher unemployment in 2008, 2009

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-03 20:44

PARIS  -- The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is predicting an average rise in unemployment in 2008 and 2009, at the same time calling for greater efforts to combat racism in hiring and discrimination against women.

Published in Paris Wednesday, the annual report on employment perspectives, which covers the 30 OECD member states, reveals that "growth in employment figures is expected to slow down significantly in both 2008 and 2009".

Unlike between 1995 and 2005, when the curve of job creation recorded an average growth of 1.1 percent in the OECD member states, the rise will slacken to 0.7 percent in 2008, before falling further to 0.5 percent in 2009.

"The downward trend in unemployment in recent years should be reversed in 2008, with the number of jobless people in the OECD zone increasing by up to 1 million in 2008, and nearly 2 million in 2009," according to the report.

The report predicts a rate of unemployment of 5.7 percent among the active population this year and 6 percent next year. The OECD area includes 23 European countries and Australia, Turkey, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, the United States, Japan and South Korea.