The number of registered unemployed stood at 2,766 in February when compared to 4,511 looking for work 12 months ago. 

New figures released by Jobsplus showed that when compared to February 2016, registrants for work decreased irrespective of how long they had
been registering, with the largest decrease recorded among those who had been registering for more than one year. 

The 2,766 figure is a new low for Malta, with registered unemployed having first dipped below the 3,000 figure at the turn of the year. In January of this year, 2,889 people were registered as unemployed.

Figures showed that the number of people registering under Part I declined by 1,645, with a decline of 100 among those registering under Part II. 

Part I of the register concerns new job seekers who have left school, those reentering the labour market and those who have been made redundant by their previous employer. 

Those registering under Part II are either workers sacked due to disciplinary action, left work of their own free will, refused work or training or were struck off the register following an inspection by law enforcement. 

The largest share of males on the unemployment register sought work as clerical support workers (18.4 per cent) and as craft and related trades workers (18 per cent). Among women, 37 per cent sought occupations as clerical support workers. 

The registered unemployment rate in September 2016 stood at 1.7 per cent of the labour supply (excluding part-time employment) and varied from 2 per cent among men to 1.3 per cent among women.