UNEMPLOYMENT : EU JOBLESS RATE CONTINUES CLIMB.

In the eurozone, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.8% in November 2008, compared with 7.7% in October 2008 and 7.2% in November 2007. In the EU, the unemployment rate was 7.2% in November 2008, compared with 7.1% in October 2008 and 6.9% in November 2007, according to Eurostat figures released on 8 January.

Eurostat estimates that 17.466 million men and women in the EU27, of whom 12.180 million in the eurozone, were unemployed in November 2008. Compared with October 2008, the number of persons unemployed increased by 274,000 in the EU and by 202,000 in the eurozone. Compared with November 2007, unemployment went up by 1,134,000 in the EU27 and by 1,059,000 in the eurozone.

The unemployment rate for males increased...