Greek youth unemployment close to 75pc in some areas The data showed that nine out of the ten regions with the highest unemployment rates were in Spain or Greece, while the regions with the lowest rates were all located in the northern states of Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Czech Republic. In Britain, the West Midlands had the highest unemployment rate, at 11.7pc, while the number of women out of work stood at 11.3pc. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of jobless women in the UK is now at its highest level since records began. North East Scotland and the Highlands had the lowest unemployment rates, Eurostat said, at 4.7pc and 4.6pc respectively. Europe's leaders have called for more action to tackle joblessness in Europe. Earlier this month, European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso urged Europe's leaders to come up with "a more ambitious plan to fight youth unemployment" at a next month's EU summit. "We must give revive hope, specially for young people," he said. We cannot wait for long, we are all aware this is urgent.