News release: “The euro area (EA15) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 7.8% in November 2008, compared with 7.7% in October3. It was 7.2% in November 2007. The EU27 unemployment rate was 7.2% in November 2008, compared with 7.1% in October. It was 6.9% in November 2007. Eurostat estimates that 17.466 million men and women in the EU27, of which 12.180 million were in the euro area, were unemployed in November 2008. Compared with October 2008, the number of persons unemployed increased by 274 000 in the EU27 and by 202 000 in the euro area. Compared with November 2007, unemployment went up by 1 134 000 in the EU27 and by 1 059 000 in the euro area.”