TEHRAN, Aug 29: Iran’s already high level of unemployment rose even further in the official year ending March 2002, while inflation fell in the same period, according to government figures published on Thursday.

End-March jobless totaled 3.2 million people out of a total population of 64 million, and represented a 14.8 per cent unemployment rate. That was up from 14.2 percent the previous year and 13.6 per cent a year earlier.

But the Iran Daily, citing “economists,” said the true jobless rate is “significantly higher” than the official one.

Deputy Labor Minister Ali Yaghoubi told journalists the country was suffering from a “grave crisis,” adding that the jobless situation could get even worse.

He pointed to the fact that 5.5 million more young people will be entering the job market over the next four years.—AFP