The unemployment rate estimated for the 4th quarter 2007 was 7.8%. This value is down 0.4 percentage points (p.p.) from the same quarter of 2006 and down 0.1 p.p. from the previous quarter. The number of unemployed was estimated to reach 439.5 thousand individuals, having decreased 4.2% from the same quarter of the previous year, and 1.1% from the previous quarter. The number of employed increased by 0.9%, compared with the same quarter of 2006, but decreased by 0.2%, compared with the previous quarter.
The average unemployment rate for 2007 was 8.0%, an increase of 0.3 p.p., compared with the previous year. The unemployed population reached 448.6 thousand individuals, up 4.9% from the previous year. The employed population recorded an annual increase of 0.2%.