SANTIAGO, Dec 26: Chile's jobless rate is expected to have fallen to its lowest level in over eight years in the September-November period, with a sharp fall in the agricultural sector, according to a Reuters poll on Tuesday.The median forecast of nine economists surveyed was for a jobless rate of 7 per cent for the 3-month period, below the 7.4 per cent rate in the August-to-October period.

The unemployment rate for the September-to-November period in 2005 was 8.8 per cent.

The last time unemployment was at 7 per cent was in the August-October period of 1998.

Analysts said strong demand for labour from the agricultural and business sectors, combined with signs of a resurgence in economic activity after a sluggish third quarter, had helped bring down the jobless rate. They expected the rate to continue falling.

“Given the recent trend in joblessness, and our expectations for economic activity (in the fourth quarter), we expect that the unemployment rate in December could fall to 6.5 per cent,” Chile's banking association said in a statement.

Economists said an increase in the number of people taking temporary jobs during the summer months in the southern hemisphere would also help bring down unemployment.

—Reuters