A total of 21,296 people signed off the Live Register during February 2001 according figures released today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The CSO recorded 18,740 new registrants giving a net decrease of 2,556 for the month. This compares with a monthly decrease of 4,069 for the corresponding figure last year.
On average the register decreased by 639 people per week in February, compared with an average weekly increase of 121 in January.
The CSO found the number of male registrants decreased by 522 per week and while the number of female ones fell by 117 per week.
The Live Register is not a measure of unemployment and includes part-time workers and those entitled to unemployment assistance or benefit. The latest Quarterly National Household Survey which is a more accurate measure of unemployment reported 68,800 persons unemployed for September-November 2000.