Official figures show that German unemployment fell sharply in May, as Europe's biggest economy advanced despite the euro zone financial crisis.
The unemployment rate fell to 7.7% of the workforce, the lowest level since December 2008, from 8.1% in April. This was also the lowest May reading since 1992 and the 11th monthly decline in a row.
The number of jobseekers declined by 165,000 after harsh winter weather finally eased, bringing the total to 3,242,000, the country's labour agency said.
'The current trend of important labour market indicators shows a renewed improvement,' said the head of the labour agency, Frank-Jurgen Weise. When adjusted for seasonal factors, the number of jobless fell by 45,000, nearly three times more than analysts had expected.
