Germany's unemployment rate rose slightly in July as the recession took its toll on the jobs market.
Government figures showed unemployment rose to 8.2% from 8.1% in June, with just under 3.5 million people in Europe's biggest economy out of work.
The government said 52,000 more people were out of work than in June and over 250,000 more than at the same time last year.
However, adjusted for seasonal factors, the Federal Labour Office said unemployment rose 30,000 to leave seasonally-adjusted rate steady at 8.3%.
A state scheme subsidising firms to cut working hours has thus far prevented a flood of jobless claims but experts have warned that the steady trickle in recent months could soon become a deluge.
