Those out of a job in Norway peaked to 3.6% about two years ago. 2011 and 2012 saw levels decline from 3.2% in the first quarter, to 3% in July this year, respectively.

The general September 2012’s rate of unemployment across the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) 34 countries measured was 7.9% “broadly the same rate observed since January 2011,” representatives say in a statement.

“[However,] Differences in unemployment rates across OECD countries remain large,” they explain.

Spain had the highest, with almost 5.98 million people (25.8%). Greece came second with about 1.26 million (25.1%) in July – which were the last figures available when the “OECD Harmonised Unemployment Rates” September compilation was released.

Those without work in Portugal and Ireland two months ago were 855,000 and 312,000 persons (15.7% and 15.1%), respectively.

Conversely, these were below 5.5% in Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico and the Netherlands.

Worst off amongst Norway’s Nordic companions was Denmark. 241,000 (8.3%) of the working population was unemployed in September.

Amongst the other ones in descending order for the same month were Finland (213,000 - 7.9%), Sweden (398,000 - 7.8%), and Iceland (11,000 - 6.3%) jobless.

Youth unemployment amongst the 15 to 24-year-olds continued to rise in the Euro area. Highest were Greece (55.6% in July), and in September, Spain (54.2%), Ireland (34.5%), Italy (35.1%), and Portugal (35.1%).

“Overall, there were 47.6 million people unemployed in the OECD area in September 2012, 0.4 million less than in August, but still 12.9 million more than in July 2008. Of these, 11.6 million were youths,” states the OECD.

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