E.E.C. Countries Face Unemployment Rise

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 22

E.E.C. Countries Face Unemployment Rise

(M.Z.P4.-Beuter— Copyright; BRUSSELS, Mar. 30. Most Common Market countries face increased unemployment and an easing of pressure on labour markets in 1967, according to a recently-published report on labour trends by the community’s executive commission.

The upward trend of unemployment in 1966 was continuing in most member countries, particularly Holland and West Germany, the report said.

The labour situation made more urgent the application of an effective labour and vocational training policy, as outlined in the first mediumterm economic programme recently adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Six. The commission suggested that the Council of Ministers should hold a discussion, as a matter of priority, on labour policy, with special reference to the current situation and the training, re-training and up-grading of workers. The report said that unfilled vacancies in the Common Market fell from about 828,000 in 1965 to 586,000 in October, 1966, largely due to recession. During this period, the number of unsatisfied applications for employment rose from 1,666,000 to 1,680,000. The report forecast for 1967:

West Germany.—Probably a further slight fall in the number of unemployed. Holland.— Unemployment, which averaged almost 45,000 in 1966, might rise further.

Belgium.—A dedine in labour requirements with unemployment likely to rise at least as rapidly as in 1966. Italy.—Some improvement on last year’s figures, which were the highest for unemployment in the Common Market. France.—A certain improvement in the level of activity and a further easing of strains on the labour market