I just saw this on CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_bn2#/video/world/2012/06/20/pkg-goodman-spain-red-cross.cnn

The unemployment rate in Spain is around 25%, with people who had been in the middle class going to the Red Cross for food.  Things are bad there.

I ask the question in the subject, because unemployment in the U.S is attributed to laziness, government doing something, and handouts.  With unemployment that high, I am curious to see what percentage of unemployment in Spain would be because of these factors.

Hierarchical results need unemployment to keep supply/demand shifted in favour of the owners. Unemployment is not unfortunate in capitalistic corporatism, but a necessity. There. My starter for 10!

Probably not much, Mostly unemployment in Spain seems to be mostly caused by it's labor laws that went to far extreme in a reactionary move after Franco pretty much said "Screw you" to the workers.

Well, that and there is a HUGE Underground labor market that goes unreported to avoid it's labor laws, and allows employees to still collect unemployment benefits while working.

Well their is a factor of laziness involved with the unemployment rate of countries..The problem is that it is certainly not the case with Spain...it would be great if that was the problem, sadly the problem is that their is no solution or answer for the millions of unemployed. Ever had an interview where you had 3-4 concurrents for the same job? Most in that situation will pessimestic for getting the job;...now imagine if you have 50-150 concurrents and have NO EXPERIENCE.... Good luck!

For many they have more chance to win the lottery to get a job, creating your own store/restaurant/company is almost impossible thx to banks not giving a loan or simply have no money and if you can open it you have a high failing rate because a big group of the population haves income to spend it in your store...

The only answer is an radical one and then you end up like on girl in my office who comes whole the way from Spain to work here. The boss allows her to sleep in the office so she can give the money she save to her family...she even go so far to only eat one meal a day and only drink water from the crane while trying to work 12-16 hours a day....6days in the week..

I'm Spanish and I confirm this. Especially in the south.

Also, the whole Spanish economy was based around housing (stupidly). Not only did it employ millions of Spaniards, but millions more came from outside to work in constructin jobs (the Spanish population increased 20% in 10 years!!). Now most of those people are out of a job.

Thankfully my region is independent from Spain in some ways (we manage our own taxes, healthcare, education, police force...) and we have the lowest unemployment at 12% (still pretty high). But at this rate I don't know were we'll end up. Thank God I've only lived in Spain for 1 year of the last 7 and I'm leaving again soon.

An huge underground labor market.... I can say from my experience that it is not typical Spain....I saw the same in NY, in UK and now in Belgium.

You will probably find this is the case in most western european countries. The UK had a huge problem with this a few years back and although a lot of work has been done to restrict people collecting benefits while working the problem still exists.

Not long ago the unemployment in Spain was 10% - 12%.

It has since doubled and I don't believe 12% of the working population suddenly got lazy.

A lot of spaniards were employed in the building industry which has collapsed. It's not rocket science that this would reflect in the unemployment statistics.

These people need to find new skills but with a recessive economy there will be no easy way forward.

Yes, some people are lazy but there has got to be more to it than that.