UK unemployment levels do not compare favourably with other European countries, according to Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) analysis of official Eurostat data.

The CIPD’s analysis of Eurostat figures, which provide comparable statistics for all 27 EU member states shows while the UK unemployment rate of 8% in Q3 2009 was below the EU average (8.9%), 13 have higher unemployment rates and 13 lower unemployment rates.

Dr John Philpott, CIPD’s chief economic adviser, says: “The UK may draw comfort from having lower measured unemployment than the EU average but in truth we are no better than a mid-table performer in the EU jobless league. Taking ‘hidden joblessness’ into account makes the UK’s relative performance look less impressive still, and once again highlights the scale of the macroeconomic and employment policy challenge that awaits us in the next few years.”