Poland's jobless rate falls to new low

WARSAW, Poland --Poland's unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in nearly six years last month, government data showed Friday.

The jobless rate fell to 15.3 percent in September from 15.5 percent in August, according to preliminary figures from the Labor Ministry.

The ministry attributed the decline to a "lively labor market" and new jobs financed from European Union social funds.

Poland, a former communist country, joined the EU in 2004. Despite some lingering problems, including dilapidated infrastructure, the country expects strong economic growth of about 5 percent this year.

September's rate was the lowest since December 2000, when it stood at 15.1 percent.

Poland's unemployment rate has gradually declined since reaching a post-communist peak of 20.7 percent in February 2003. However, it remains the highest in the European Union.

Final September unemployment data are due in late October. However, those data seldom diverge by more than one-tenth of a percentage point from the preliminary figures.