Brussels, 03/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - In August 2006, the rate of unemployment in the euro zone reached 7.9%, up from 7.8% in July and 8.5% in the same period of 2005. In the EU of 25, it rose to 8.0%, unchanged from the previous month and down on the result of August 2005, when it stood at 8.7%. In August 2006, the lowest rates of unemployment were seen in Denmark (3.7%), the Netherlands (3.8%), Estonia (4.2%), Ireland (4.4%), Luxembourg and Austria (4.8% each). The highest rates of unemployment were to be seen in Poland (15.0%), Slovakia (13.1%), Greece (9.2% in the first quarter of 2006), France (8.8%) and in Belgium (8.6%). Taken annually, 17 Member States registered a drop in their unemployment rate, five an increase and two remain stable. The greatest relative decreases were recorded in Estonia (from 7.5% to 4.2%), Lithuania (from 7.7% to 5.7%), Denmark (from 4.7% to 3.7%) and in Latvia (from 8.9% to 7.2%). The sharpest relative increases were recorded in the United Kingdom (from 4.6% in June 2005 to 5.4% in June 2006) and in Hungary (from 7.3% to 7.6%). In August 2006, the unemployment rate of the United States was 4.7% and Japan's 4.2%. (ab)