“Not every country with an employment rate above a certain figure will necessarily face a revolution as each society has its own dynamics, but there are shared and distinct factors driving the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia,” said Tristan Cooper, head analyst of Middle East Sovereigns for Moody’s Investors Services. “Contagion into the wider region is more likely in countries that have large numbers of frustrated, unemployed citizens who are eager for political change.

Unemployment in Tunisia is reported at 13.3-15.4% as of the end of Decemeber.

Unemployment in Egypt is reported at 9.4% as of the end of December.

Unemployment in the U.S. is reported at 9.0% as of the end of January.

via the NY Times.