News

Spain''s unemployment rate rose by 98,906 in October, up 2.6 percent on September to a total of 3,808,353, the government reported Tuesday.

Since last year, the number of unemployed has risen by 990,327 people, a rise of 35.14%. In October 2008, the number of registered unemployed was 192,658 more than the previous year''s figure.

Figure are up slightly in all employment sectors, particularly in the service industry, where a further 62,447 people (2.92%) are without work, followed by agriculture at 11.899 (12,48%); first-time employed at 9.953 (3,59%); construction, 8.802 (1,24%) and industry, 5.805 (1,19%).

October becomes the third consecutive month in which unemployment has risen following a slight reprieve between May and July when figures decreased briefly.

2,185 more unemployed in Basque Country

The number of registered unemployed in the Basque Country rose by 2,195 people in October compared to September, creating a total figure of 125,589.

The percentage increase in the number of jobless in the Autonomous Community therefore rose by 1.78%. Since October 2008, unemployment in the Basque Country rose by 37,752, an increase of 42,98%.

The number of registered unemployed in Navarra at the end of October rose by 1,385 people, a rise of 3.71%, compared to September creating a total figure of 38,737 citizens out of work.

Government statement

Treasury and Economy Minister, Elena Salgado, gave a statement in which she predicted that unemployment figures would begin to drop "in a few months" and that by the second half of 2010, new jobs would be created. Nevertheless, the Minister was also sensible to the fact that since October 2008, 192,000 more people were now out of work, a rise of almost double.