The unemployment rate came in at 3.5% in November, the same as in the previous month. Meanwhile, economists had expected the rate to rise to 3.6%.

In the corresponding month last year, the jobless rate was also 3.5%.

There were 263,226 unemployed people in November, up from 260,641 a month ago.

The labor office reported that by the end of November, job offices had registered a total of 278,708 vacancies, indicating 1,788 less vacancies than in the preceding month.