( CNN ) -- Spain 's unemployment rate rose to a record high of 27.2 % in the first quarter of 2013 , the Spanish National Institute of Statistics said Thursday . The figure represented an increase of 1.1 % from the previous quarter , as recession continues to take its toll on the debt-stricken nation . Francisco Carrizo , 37 , a Venezuelan teacher from Madrid , told CNN that unemployment is at `` preposterous levels '' and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy 's center-right government is feeding the Spanish people a `` bunch of lies . '' Watch more : Economist weighs in on Spain 's banks . He said many of his students are considering emigrating for higher education to improve their job prospects , fueling fears that Spain is undergoing a `` brain drain . '' In 2007 , before the global economic crisis hit , Spain had 1.9 million people unemployed -- 8.6 % of the active population . That figure has now risen to 6.2 million . Watch more : Help for Spanish banks . Figures from Instituto Nacional de Estadística , Spain 's national statistics office , showed unemployment among 16 to 24 year-olds is at 57.2 % . Joblessness is higher among women than men . Carrizo -- who describes himself as a center-left supporter -- said : `` I would like the government to be more honest and independent ; and not submit to the markets . It seems to me that whatever Germany says , they do . '' Watch more : How to fix the Spanish economy . Anti-austerity protesters are expected to march on the Spanish Parliament later Thursday in the capital , Madrid , as part of an organized movement to bring political change to the country . Political activist Albert Jiménez , 28 , told CNN that people -- both young and old -- are increasingly turning to politics to voice their frustrations against a government `` that is letting the country go to hell . '' Read more : The human cost of Spain 's financial crisis . Jiménez , who works part-time as an office clerk and private tutor , said three of his friends have fled to northern Europe to look for work . He added : `` The young people that are staying are becoming very politically active in organized social movements . '' Jiménez said it would be wrong to place all the blame for Spain 's problems on Germany 's shoulders . Watch more : Failing banks in Spain drag down economy . He said : `` Germany is not an NGO . Everyone knew what they were signing up in the eurozone and the European Union ; an economic project . Germany saw the profits in the idea and so did Spain . '' `` Of course the situation is very bad , because we are doing all these adjustments , '' a spokesperson for the Spanish economy ministry told CNN . Watch more : Spain economy eyed after Portugal plea . However , the spokesman said the protest movement was smaller than in other countries and the Spanish population was `` extremely reasonable . '' Spain , the fourth-largest economy in the eurozone , is suffering its second recession in three years , and its ailing banking industry has had to draw on the eurozone 's bailout fund to stay afloat . In December , European finance ministers approved a 39.5 billion euro ( $ 51.6 billion ) bailout for Spain 's banks , which suffered after the collapse of the country 's property bubble . But the Mediterranean country has stopped short of following in the footsteps of Greece , Ireland and Portugal in requesting a full-blown sovereign bailout from the eurozone 's rescue fund , the European Stability Mechanism . To stave off a bailout , Rajoy 's administration has been forced to implement harsh austerity measures to keep government borrowing costs sustainable while ensuring larger eurozone partners , such as Germany , remain onside .
Portugal 's unemployment rate climbs to a new record high of 1.1 % . The total number of unemployed people is now three , official figures show . Anti-austerity protesters are due to march on the European Union the first quarter of 2013 .