Unemployment across the euro zone has hit its highest level since December 1998, the European Union's statistics office said today.
The seasonally adjusted rate for the eurozone was 9.8% in October, with overall numbers on the dole up to 15.567 million people across the economic region - even though the rate was unchanged from September.
Across the 27-nation EU as a whole, there are now at least 22.51 million people unemployed. Compared to September, that meant an extra 134,000 out of work in the euro area - whereas the EU figures rose by 258,000.
Compared to one year earlier, there were more than 3.1 million more people unemployed in the euro zone and five million more across the full bloc.
In the US, the unemployment rate was 10.2% in October. Japan's equivalent was half that rate.
Today's figures show that unemployment among the under 25s stretched to more than one in five people.
Euro zone PMI rises in November
Meanwhile, other figures from the euro zone showed that manufacturing activity expanded in November but orders were seen to be reaching a plateau triggering concerns over the recovery's sustainability.
The euro zone purchasing managers' index (PMI) for the manufacturing sector, published by data and research group Markit, rose to 51.2 points in November, up from 50.7 points in October and above an earlier 51 estimate.
It was the second month in a row in which the widely-watched reading has been above the crucial 50 boom-or-bust line.
Growth of output and new work received was the fastest for 26 and 27 months respectively, Markit added. However, production 'contracted further in Spain and Greece, with the rates of decline accelerating since October,' the survey said.
The euro zone manufacturing recovery had gained traction, although from a low base with the rebound broadening beyond France and Germany, Markit said.
