Unemployment in February was 9.48 per cent, 0.19 percentage points down the figure for January, and 2.02 per cent down the figure for February 2006, the Bulgarian Employment Agency said Friday, quoted by BTA.

A total of 351,175 jobless people are registered in the Labour Offices, down by 6,904 people from January and by 74,976 people year-on-year.

A total of 15,979 jobs were announced in the Labour Offices, of them 11,457 on the primary market. The bulk of these jobs, 8,792, are in the private sector.

A total of 15,761 jobless have found work, most of them, 87.3 per cent, thanks to the Labour Offices.

In February 63,814 people are employed under programmes and measures implemented by the Employment Agency, which is almost 3,000 people more than in January. A total of 6,907 new people joined such initiatives.

A total of 1,966 unemployed were enrolled in vocational trainings.