Italy has the highest tax burden on labor in all the eurozone, European Union statistics bureau Eurostat said Monday. In 2010 the burden on business personnel rose from 42.3% to 42.6% when labor taxes and social-security contributions are combined. The average among the 17 eurozone nations is 34%. Eurostat also said that the tax burden on the general public in Italy is expected to rise from 45.6% to 47.3% in 2012, following a series of tax hikes as part of a government austerity program approved in December.