The unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent in the third trimester, which represents a 1.3 percent increase with regards to the same period of last year, when it had reached 7.8 percent, according to the Indec national statistics bureau.

On the other hand, the underemployment rate rose to 10.6 percent, from the 9.2 percent registered in the third trimester of 2008.

In comparison with the second trimester of 2009, the unemployment rate grew 0.3 percent, since in those months it had registered 8.8 percent.

The number of people affected, over a total of 11.3 million, includes 1.033.000 unemployed and 1.203.000 underemployed, whereas 10.3 million people are employed.