The Economy Minister of Spain Elena Salgado said that the country’s jobless rate is likely to increase at a constantly lower rate in the month of December as compared to the same period a year ago, and could even record a decline.

Further, the economy minister said, “We think it (registered jobless rise) will be a figure that is significantly lower than December last year. It could even be favourable.”

The country has recorded joblessness leapt 139,694 people or 4.6% in the month of December 2008 from a month earlier, when it touched the mark of three million for the first time in last 12 years.

Meanwhile, in the month of November 2009, Spain’s jobless rate touched the mark of 3.9 million.

The Labour Ministry will release December report on January 5 next year.

According to the study conducted by the Centre of Social Studies (CIS), “Some 79 percent of Spaniards believed unemployment was the country's main problem, the highest level in over 10 years.”

Moreover, the study showed that the second largest concern was the economy followed by terrorism, immigration and corruption.