The bar chart below shows the percentage of unemployed graduates, aged 20-24, in one European country over a two-year period. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and making comparisons where relevant.

The bar chart compares the

unemployment

rates

of male and female graduates aged 20–24 in one European country from January 2008 to

October

2009.

Overall

,

unemployment

rates

fluctuated over the period for both genders, but men generally had higher

rates

of

unemployment

than women, with a sharp increase in

October

2008 and

October

2009. In January 2008, the

unemployment

rates

for men and women were relatively low, at around 10% and 7%, respectively. These

rates

remained fairly stable until July 2008, when both saw a slight increase.

However

, by

October

2008, there was a significant spike in

unemployment

for men, reaching around 16%,

while

the rate for women rose more moderately to about 11%. In 2009, the

unemployment

rates

fluctuated again, starting lower in January and April before rising sharply in July and

October

. By

October

2009, male

unemployment

peaked at nearly 25%,

while

the female rate

also

increased substantially, reaching around 15%. In summary, male graduates consistently faced higher

unemployment

, with both genders experiencing notable increases in late 2009.