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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Germany's unemployment rate rises | Germany's unemployment rate rises |
| (4 days later) | |
| Germany's unemployment rate rose to 8.6% in March as the global economic downturn continued to tighten its grip on Europe's largest economy. | Germany's unemployment rate rose to 8.6% in March as the global economic downturn continued to tighten its grip on Europe's largest economy. |
| The rate rose slightly from 8.5% in February, on an unadjusted basis. | The rate rose slightly from 8.5% in February, on an unadjusted basis. |
| In seasonally adjusted terms, the rate rose to 8.1% from 8%, official figures also showed. This equates to 3.4 million people, an increase of 69,000. | In seasonally adjusted terms, the rate rose to 8.1% from 8%, official figures also showed. This equates to 3.4 million people, an increase of 69,000. |
| Unemployment rates have been rising across Europe, with the Spanish jobless rate the highest at more than 14%. | Unemployment rates have been rising across Europe, with the Spanish jobless rate the highest at more than 14%. |
| Weak economy | Weak economy |
| "The economic downswing is increasingly having an impact on the labour market," said Frank-Jurgen Weise at the Federal Labour Office. | "The economic downswing is increasingly having an impact on the labour market," said Frank-Jurgen Weise at the Federal Labour Office. |
| The jump in the number of people out of work was bigger than many analysts had forecast. | The jump in the number of people out of work was bigger than many analysts had forecast. |
| "The increase was stronger than expected. That's obviously linked to the weaker economy. For the second quarter, we expect a slight decline and stabilisation after that," said Stefan Muetze from Helaba. | "The increase was stronger than expected. That's obviously linked to the weaker economy. For the second quarter, we expect a slight decline and stabilisation after that," said Stefan Muetze from Helaba. |
| "But we have to assume that the job market will deteriorate further, well into 2010. At the end of 2009, we're likely to be near the four-million mark in unemployment figures," he added. | "But we have to assume that the job market will deteriorate further, well into 2010. At the end of 2009, we're likely to be near the four-million mark in unemployment figures," he added. |
| German employers' attempts to prevent laying off workers failed to prevent the increase in unemployment. | German employers' attempts to prevent laying off workers failed to prevent the increase in unemployment. |
| "Given that many German firms are still trying to get by with short-time work instead of lay-offs, the marked rise in joblessness during March is a harbinger of even worse figures to come during the second half of 2009," said Timo Klein at IHS Global Insight. | "Given that many German firms are still trying to get by with short-time work instead of lay-offs, the marked rise in joblessness during March is a harbinger of even worse figures to come during the second half of 2009," said Timo Klein at IHS Global Insight. |