Many more millions became jobless in the Eurozone -- the 16 nations which share the common currency euro -- pushing the unemployment rate to a 10-year high of 9.2 per cent in April.
Reflecting a strained labour market in the wake of the global recession, the jobless rate has rose to 9.2 per cent from 8.9 per cent in March.
"The euro area seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 9.2 per cent in April 2009, compared with 8.9 per cent in March," Eurostat, the European Communities' official statistical agency said in a statement today.
The rate of unemployment in the 27-nation European Union too went up to 8.6 per cent in April as compared to 8.4 per cent in the previous month.
"The EU27 unemployment rate was 8.6 per cent in April 2009, compared with 8.4 per cent in March3.
"For the euro area this is the highest rate since September 1999, and for the EU27 since January 2006," the statement noted.
According to the Eurostat, 20.83 million men and women in the European Union. Of them, 14.58 million who were in the euro area, were unemployed in April.