The line graph below gives information about the rates of unemployment between 1991 and 2005 in three different countries in Europe. The table shows the percentage of men and women in the workforce in these three countries. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
| Country | Men | Women |
| Germany | 76.5% | 54.4% |
| Spain | 66.2% | 32.3% |
| Italy | 77.1% | 37.8% |
Sample Answer
The graph shows unemployment levels in three countries from 1991 to 2005 while the table gives the proportion of men and women in these countries who worked in 1991.
In 1991, Spain had the highest unemployment rate at 13% increasing markedly to 18%( 1993-1995), then falling steadily to 9% in 2005. In contrast, unemployment was low in Germany, starting at 4% but climbing gradually to 9% in 1997, dipping to 6% in 2001 and increasing to a high of 11% in 2005. Italy’s unemployment rate fluctuated less than the others, starting and finishing at 8% over this period and reaching a maximum of 12% from 1997 to 1999.
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In 1991, just over half the female population in Germany (54.4%) was working compared with more than three-quarters of the men. However, in Spain, about a third of the women were working, and a third of the men were not. Italy’s employment rate among men in that year was similar to Germany’s, but not as many female workers were employed (37.8%).
Overall, in Germany, the rate of unemployment rose while there was a downward trend in the other two countries.
Vocabulary
- The graph shows
- The table gives the proportion of
- Increasing markedly to
- Falling steadily to
- In contrast
- Climbing gradually to
- Dipping to
- Increasing to a high of
- Fluctuated less than the others
- Just over half
- More than three-quarters of
- A third of
- Downward trend
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