The average unemployment rate was 7.7% in August-October last year.

After slightly lower rates in the previous three-month periods, the jobless rate returned in June-August to its peak reached in February-April this year, and went further up to a new more than 13 years record in August-October.

In August-October the unemployment rate for the 15-64 age group was 10.5%, up from 10.4% in July-September and 10.0% in June-August, and 7.8% a year earlier.

The harmonized unemployment rate calculated according to the Eurostat methodology was 9.7% in September, up from 9.6% in August and 7.8% in September last year, 9.7% for the EU-16 and 9.2% for the EU-27 in September.

The average number of unemployed was 439,500 in the 15-74 age group in August-October, up from 436.200 in July-September and from 418,800 in June-August, and from 327,900 in August-October a year ago.

The number of employed in the 15-74 age group grew to 3,788,900 from 3,783,500 in the previous three-month period, but was down from 3,916,000 a year ago.

The participation or activity rate was 55,0% for the 15-74-year age group, after 54.9% in July-September, and slightly down from 55,1% in August-October last year. It was 62.0% for the 15-64 age group after 61.9% in July-September, and the same as a year ago.

Of all unemployed, 19.7% were from the 15-24 age group in August-October. Unemployment rate in this age group grew to 27.7% during one year from 20.4%.

Of all the unemployed, 43,1% was seeking a job for one year or more in August-October, and the average length of unemployment was 16.3months, down from 18.7months a year ago. (MTI-ECONEWS)