German unemployment rises to another record high

01/03/2005 - 09:21:00
German unemployment rose to a new post-World War II record in February as the number of people without a job climbed above 5.2 million, according to government figures released today.

The jobless figure in Europe’s largest economy hit a new record for the second straight month.

It rose to 5.216 million from 5.037 million in January, when it passed the politically sensitive five million mark for the first time as a new benefit system swelled the ranks of the registered unemployed.

The unadjusted jobless rate rose to 12.6% from 12.1% – equalling the previous record, set in January 1998.