Spain's jobless hits record in December at 4.42 million

MADRID: The number of registered unemployed in Spain rose to 4.42 million at the end of December, the highest level since the figures first began being collected in 1996, the labour ministry said Tuesday.

"The figures for the number of registered unemployed for the month of December confirm the deterioration of the economic situation during the second half of the year," it said in a statement.