The unemployment rate in Euro-zone nations is stagnating at close to 9%, reports the AP.

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Unemployment in the 12 nations that share the euro as their currency remained at 8.8 percent in May, its highest level in three years, the European Union statistics agency Eurostat said Tuesday.

The jobless rate in the euro-zone's largest economies in Germany and France, stood at 9.4 percent and 9.1 percent respectively, while the highest rate was registered by Spain, where unemployment stood at 11.3 percent.

Despite their high taxes, balanced budgets, and generous social programs, Europe continues to have unemployment. France, who caps the number of hours a person can work each week to 35, has an unemployment rate of over 9%. Go figure?