Portugal Q4 Unemployment Rate Rises

(RTTNews) - Portugal's jobless rate increased in the fourth quarter, after easing in the previous quarter, data from Statistics Portugal showed Wednesday.

The unemployment rate climbed to 13.5 percent in the three months ended in December from 13.1 percent in the third quarter. In the same period last year, the rate was at 15.3 percent.

The youth jobless rate, which applies to the 15-24 age group, climbed to 34 percent from 32.2 percent in the previous quarter. A year ago, the rate was 36.1 percent.

The number of unemployed persons increased to 698,300 in the fourth quarter from 698,900 in the three-month period to September. A year ago, the jobless figure totaled 808,000.

The labor force participation rate fell by 0.5 percent to 50.1 percent from 50.6 percent in the previous quarter. A year ago, the participation rate was also 50.6 percent.