Greek jobless rate eases but recession entrenched

"The unemployment rate is still on an upwards trend and its slight drop in December simply reflects the relatively good state of seasonal demand," Magginas said, predicting a rate of around 10.7 percent for the first half of 2010.

(Reporting by Ingrid Melander and Renee Maltezou; editing by Paul Hoskins and John Stonestreet)