According to the monthly Social Security figures, the number of beneficiaries of unemployment benefit was 151,330 in March, down 8.4% (13,804 people) compared with the same month of 2017 and 2.1% (3,264 people) against February.

In March this year, initial unemployment benefit covered 9,291 individuals, down 15.6% (1,821 unemployed people) compared to March 2017 and 5.1% (504 people) compared to February.

The number of unemployed with so-called subsequent unemployment benefit was 23,933, or 8,184 fewere people year-on-year (down 15.6%) and 133 more than in February (up 0.6%).

The average value of the benefit in March was €485.60 per month.

According to Social Security figures, unemployment benefit extension covered 26 individuals in March, 14 fewer in year-on-year terms and three fewer in relation to February.

The extraordinary measure to support the long-term unemployed was provided to 4,734 people, or 1,751 more than in March last year and 1,532 more than in February of this year.

The number of unemployed enrolled at employment centres dropped by 16.6% in March, compared to the same month of 2017, to 393,335 people, down 2.8% from the previous month, according to figures released by the Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP) on Thursday. According to the IEFP this is the lowest figure since August 2008.