Despite high unemployment in mostEastern Europe and Central Asia (ECA) countries, people havenot withdrawn from the labor market but continue to activelylook for jobs. Unemployment increased significantly in ECAcountries during the crisis, particularly among youth.However, young people are also the ones benefiting most fromthe recovery. Labor market recovery remained sluggish up tothe third quarter of 2010. Many countries have seen only aslight recovery in unemployment rates, although output isrecovering everywhere. Up to the third quarter of 2010, theGross Domestic Product (GDP) upturn in most ECA countriesappeared to be driven by increases in productivity and hoursworked; however, these are still below pre-crisis levels.This suggests that there is room in most countries forfurther increases in productivity and hours worked, whichcould delay the recovery in employment.