Unemployment in October stood at five percent, according to figures released, Monday, by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The figure compares with January's 6.2 percent. During the year, there has been a consistent, uninterrupted decline of a tenth to a fifth of a percent.

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz called the numbers testimony to the success of the government's anti-crisis policy. He said Israel must continue to encourage investment and growth in the economy through "strict adherence to responsible budget policy", in order to maintain the achievement, given the growing financial crisis in Europe.