国际英语新闻：Economic Report on Africa 2010 highlights efforts to reduce unemployment

ADDIS ABABA, May 18 (Xinhua) -- The Economic Report on Africa 2010 said on Tuesday that unemployment rates remained at very high levels, hampering the ability of many African countries to reduce poverty and achieve other development objectives.

The report released on Tuesday at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said African countries must take priorities the creation of decent jobs as a central pillar of macroeconomic policy in order to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and eradicate poverty.

Briefing journalists about the report, Adam Elhiraika, the chief of Macroeconomic Analysis Section with the UNECA, said the global downturn has aggravated unemployment on the continent, but the lessons from the shock should help countries pursue policies to enter paths of high-level growth rates, meaningful high-paying employment generation and significant gains in the social sphere.