More than six out of every 10 jobless people in Greece have been out of work for over a year, according to Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) data published.
Fourth-quarter figures for 2012 put the unemployment rate at 26 per cent, from 24.8 per cent in the previous quarter and 20.7 per cent a year earlier. The jobless number reached 1,295,535, with 65.3 per cent having been without work for more than 12 months.
Still, the reduction in employment amounted to less than 1.5 per cent compared with the previous quarter and 6.4 per cent compared with the October-December period in 2011.
The jobless rate is even higher among foreign nationals in Greece, amounting to 36.9 per cent, even though the rate of financially active foreigners is considerably higher than that of Greeks. Rates remain particularly high among people aged up to 24 years (57.8 per cent) and in the most productive age group, 29-44 (32.2 per cent). Women are the hardest hit, with 29.7 per cent being out of work.
The tertiary or service sector remains the most important employment pillar, accounting for 70.5 per cent of jobs. The secondary sector, concerning manufacturing, takes a 16.3 per cent share, while the primary sector has no more than 13.2 per cent of jobs in Greece, or just over one in eight, ELSTAT data showed.