Switzerland's unemployment rate climbed to 3.9 percent in September, up from 3.8 percent a month earlier, official figures showed Wednesday.

The number of people registered as unemployed reached 154,409, or 3,578 more than in August, said the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs in a statement.

Unemployment among 15 to 24 year-olds also continued to swell, with some 29,999 youths registered as jobless in September, up 701 compared to a month ago. Against September 2008, the month's jobless numbers was a jump of some 74.9 percent.

The Swiss government expects overall unemployment rate to reach an average of 3.8 percent in 2009 and 5.2 percent in 2010 due to the economic crisis, up sharply from 2.6 percent in 2008.

Bern approved a third stimulus package in June which includes measures to tackle growing unemployment.