A look at jobless rates among European countries, which ECB says should reform labor rules

SINTRA, Portugal – The European Central Bank has called on governments in the eurozone to make it easier to hire and fire workers, saying it would help create jobs.

Here are the five countries with the highest unemployment rates among the 19 that share the euro currency, followed by the five with the lowest rates.

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HIGHEST RATES

1. Greece, 25.7 percent.

2. Spain, 23.0 percent

3. Cyprus 16.0 percent

4. Portugal 13.5 percent

5. Italy 13.0 percent

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LOWEST RATES

1. Germany, 4.7 percent

2. Austria, 5.6 percent

3. Luxembourg, 5.7 percent

4. Malta, 5.8 percent

5. Estonia, 5.9 percent

Source: Eurostat.