| Germany's unemployment rate rose to a postwar record in March, causing a political headache for the chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, ahead of crucial state elections. The number of people seeking jobs rose by 92,000 in March, adjusted for seasonal swings, the federal labour agency reported - the 14th successive monthly increase. The unemployment rate rose from 11.7% to 12%, with more than 5 million people out of work. |