Greek unemployment fell to 9.0 pct in August, from 9.6 pct in July, but remained sharply higher compared with a 7.1 pct rate in August last year, the National Statistical Service said on Thursday.

The number of unemployed people totaled 452,706 in August, up 27.6 pct from the corresponding month in 2008.

The statistics service said unemployment among men was 7.2 pct and among women 11.6 pct in August, with the 15-24 age group recording the highest unemployment rate (24.2 pct), followed by the 25-34 age group (11.8 pct).

Eastern Macedonia/Thrace (12.1 pct), Central Greece (10.9 pct) and central Macedonia (10.4 pct) recorded the highest unemployment rates in the country, while Ionian islands (3.8 pct), the Peloponese (5.1 pct), southern Aegean and Crete (6.3 pct) the lowest unemployment rates.