Unemployment in Romania fell again in February, for the third consecutive month, going against the trend in the EU and the eurozone, where unemployment rose. A further 0.1 percentage points reduction in unemployment was recorded for February in Romania, leaving 7.1 percent of Romanians out of work, according to EU statistics wing, Eurostat. The results show the lowest level of unemployment since February 2011, when the figure was also 7.1 percent unemployed.

Meanwhile, in the EU 27 and the eurozone unemployment has again risen by 0.1 percentage points in both areas – up to 10.2 and 10.8 percent. Unemployment in both the EU 27 and the eurozone has now risen by a monthly 0.1 percentage points for seven consecutive months, since August 2011.

Romania had one of the lower levels of unemployment in the EU and the second lowest figure in the region, behind only the Czech Republic. It was also one of only five countries to show a fall in percentage unemployed in February. At the other end of the scale, Spain's nightmare continues with another 0.3 percentage points rise to 23.6 percent unemployed.

More men than women were out of work in Romania – 7.5 percent of men unemployed compared to 6.7 percent of women.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com