The complexity of the problem is becoming more apparent, however, as the number of jobless people increases around the world. “More than 500 million people are out of work or under-employed in the Third World, according to the International Labor Organization,” reported The Toronto Star. “Another 50 million are out of work in Europe and North America,” it added, indicating the scope of the situation. Canada doled out $6.8 billion in unemployment-insurance benefits in a ten-month period, about 72 percent higher than in the same period of the previous year. And Canada’s jobless figure recently rose to 13.5 percent, up from a previous 11.2 percent.

Though the rate of unemployment in the United States has dropped to 8 percent in 1984, some states have suffered rates as high as 14.9 percent.

“For more than 10 million Americans who desperately need and want jobs, recovery is not even in sight,” says labor union president Lane Kirkland in U.S.News & World Report.

Job prospects in Britain are dim too. A report by the Cambridge Economic Group sees unemployment rising to more than four million by the end of the decade.

In eight countries of Europe and in Japan, there are more unemployed than there were last year, notes The Economist of February 18, 1984. This winter the Federal Republic of Germany had its highest unemployment figures in its postwar history.

In Yugoslavia “up to 15 percent of the nation’s workers​—about 900,000 people—​are jobless, with the unemployed ranks still swelling,” says U.S.News & World Report.

One out of five workers in Ivory Coast is out of a job, estimates Time magazine.

[Chart on page 3]

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

Australia․․․․․ 9.5% Belgium․․․․․․ 14.8%

Canada․․․․․․․ 11.2% France․․․․․․․․ 9.8%

Fed. Rep. of Holland․․․․․․ 17.8%

Germany․․․․․․․ 8.8% Japan․․․․․․․․․ 2.6%

Italy․․․․․․․․ 12.6% Switzerland․․․ 1.0%

Sweden․․․․․․․․ 3.7% U.S.A.․․․․․․․․ 8.0%

U.K.․․․․․․․․․ 12.5%

(Source: The Economist, February 18, 1984)