Spain's February jobless falls from month earlier on new construction jobs

[MADRID] The number of Spaniards registered as jobless fell by 0.3 per cent in February from a month earlier, or by 13,538 people, leaving 4.51 million people out of work, data from the Labour Ministry showed on Tuesday.

Joblessness fell most markedly in construction, down 1.89 per cent, or by 10,091 people. In the service sector, 223 fewer people were out of work, while unemployment fell by 6,535 people in industry, the figures showed.

The fall in joblessness in February was the sharpest registered in that month since 2001, the ministry said. Jobless figures rose in January for the first time since October marking the end of the busy Christmas season.

The number of jobless was down by 300,333 people, or 6.24 per cent in February from a year earlier.

The total number of people paying in to the social security system rose to 16.72 million by the end of February, up 96,909 people, or 0.58 per cent, from a month earlier.

REUTERS