Mauritius unemployment rises to 8.1 percent in 2012

By Jean Paul Arouff

PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - The unemployment rate in Mauritius rose to 8.1 percent in 2012 from 7.9 percent a year earlier, data showed on Friday, pushed up by a weak global economy that hurt the island's tourism sector and exports.

Statistics Mauritius said that, in the fourth quarter, the jobless rate rose by 0.3 percentage points to 7.8 percent.

The island state's international trade, which includes textile products, is heavily skewed towards the economically troubled euro zone, accounting for 67 percent of exports. The region is also the biggest source of tourists.

The statistics agency this week said it had cut its growth forecast for this year to 3.5 percent from 3.7 percent, citing a deeper contraction in the construction industry.

The Bank of Mauritius left its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 4.9 percent this month.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mauritius-unemployment-rises-8-1-percent-2012-124142324--finance.html

Chris Brown Tattoo Innocence of Muslims Clara Schumann Jael Strauss Alison Pill gizmodo cnet