Unemployment up 6.9% in Basque Country in 2011

The number of people signing on as unemployed in the Basque Country increased by 9,433 people in 2011, the equivalent of a 6.94% increase compared to 2010. According to the Spanish Ministry of Work and Immigration, the total number of people out of work in Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa rose to 145,394 across the whole Community.

In December, the number of unemployed people rose by 420 people, an increase of 0.29% compared to November.

According to the Spanish Ministry of Work and Immigration, the number of people filing for unemployment benefits across the state as a whole rose by 1,897 in December, raising the total to 4,422,359, 322,286 more than a year before, the equivalent of a 7.86% up from December 2010.

Spain's new conservative government is promising labor market reforms soon to boost employment. The overall jobless rate is released separately and quarterly and officially stands at a eurozone high of 21.5 percent.