JNN 29 April 2013 Madrid : Spain’s unemployment rate soared to a new record of 27.2% of the workforce in the first quarter of 2013, according to official figures.

The total number of unemployed people in Spain has now passed the six million figure, although the rate of the increase has slowed.

The figures underline Spain’s struggle to emerge from an economic crisis which began five years ago.

A big demonstration in Madrid is being planned against the austerity measures.

On Friday, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will unveil fiscal and policy measures aimed at halting recession in the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy.

“These figures are worse than expected and highlight the serious situation of the Spanish economy as well as the shocking decoupling between the real and the financial economy,” said Jose Luis Martinez, strategist at Citi.

Last week, the International Monetary Fund cut its 2013 forecast for Spain’s growth to a 1.6% contraction from 1.5% and said the unemployment rate would peak at 27% this year.

Peak reached?

The unemployment figure is the highest since at least 1976, the year after dictator Francisco Franco’s death began Spain’s transition to democracy.

The jobless rate, which stood at 7.9% in mid-2007, has risen relentlessly since the collapse in 2008 of a Spain’s labour-intensive property boom

Spain’s Official Population is around 47 Million which includes children and elders also who are not able to work , while about 6 Million of the Earning Members of the family are out of Work , which is a very alarming rate , as if this is not controlled , then the anarchy and chaos will grip the country badly , and as the Euro has exceeded its worth , and the Living expenses are so high , that it looks that it is now near to Impossible to create Jobs , until the salaries are cut and even very tough austerity measures are taken to control the situation , which is becoming uncontrollable .

On Wednesday, Mr Rajoy told parliament that the job situation for the entire year “will not be good, but it will be less bad than in the preceding years”.

“Next year we will have growth and jobs will be created in our country,” he said.

Meanwhile official figures in France also showed a fresh record high in unemployment. Some 3.2 million people are now seeking work in the eurozone’s second-largest economy.