Japan's unemployment rate climbed to a record-high 5.6 percent in December, pushing the average jobless rate for 2001 to a new high of 5 percent, the government revealed Tuesday in a preliminary report.

The seasonally adjusted jobless rate for December rose from 5.5 percent in November, setting a new record for the fourth consecutive month, the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry said.

The 2001 jobless rate of 5 percent was up 0.3 percentage point from 2000. Both figures were record highs. The government began compiling unemployment data in 1953.