The unemployment rate climbed to 5.5 percent in November, setting a record high for the third consecutive month with job losses by middle-aged, full-time male workers showing a marked increase, the government announced Friday.

The seasonally adjusted jobless rate was 5.4 percent in October, 5.3 percent in September and 5 percent in both August and July.

"Employment has deteriorated for the third month in a row. It is a very severe situation," Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi told a news conference.