Israel's Unemployment claims down 3%

New claims for unemployment benefits fell to 16,000 in November 2009, compared with 16,600 such claims in October
 
The National Insurance Institute (NII) announced last week that new claims for unemployment benefits fell to 16,000 in November 2009, compared with 16,600 such claims in October, marking a 3% drop.
 
New claims for unemployment benefits have been falling since July, a trend that reinforces the clear improvement in the labor market. The number of people who have been unemployed for an extended period of time fell by 2% in November, compared with the preceding month.
 
Despite the drop noted over the past few months, the NII said 2009 saw and overall rise of 50% in general unemployment claims and a 40% rise in new jobless claims, many of which were filed following the new, government-approved, unemployment claims.