The Israeli Employment Service (IES) reported a 3.2% drop in unemployment rates in February, Ynetnews reported.



February saw 213,262 people apply to the IES, compared to 220,660 in February of 2009. The data supports the downward trend in unemployment figures, as seen since July 2009.

Jobless claims came to 214,018 in February, compared to 221,022 in December – a 7.5% drop.



Other data indicated that 120,650 people applied for income support benefits in February, and that the overall demand for employees was up to 25,400, from 20,900 in December.

The Israeli Employment Service qualified its data, saying February's data was compared to December 2009's figures due to an internal industrial dispute.