In November last year, the unemployment rate in the 34 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 7.8 percent as compared to 7.9 percent in the previous five months, according to new figures published by the OECD. The number of unemployed in the OECD region indicated an increase of 12.4 million in November last year to 47.1 million persons as compared to July 2008.
In November, the unemployment rate for the euro area was stable at 12.1 percent; however it reached a new high in Italy at 12.7 percent.
In November last year, the unemployment rate in the US decreased by 0.2 percentage points to seven percent, while it remained stable in Canada at 6.9 percent, both month on month. In the same month, the unemployment rate was stable month on month in Japan at four percent.