SEOUL, March 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's jobless claims fell in double digits due to lower demand in the wholesale and retail, manufacturing, and education service sectors, labor ministry data showed Monday.
The number of new applicants for job-seeking benefits stood at 93,200 in February, down 13.3 percent from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
The number turned downward last month after a single-figure increase in the previous month.
The benefit applicants reduced in the wholesale and retail, manufacturing, and education service industries, but the reading in the information and communication sector grew last month.
The job-seeking benefits are offered by the government to help the unemployed seek jobs, taking up a majority of unemployment benefits. It is financed by the state employment insurance fund.
The number of benefit receivers totaled 625,500 in February, up 1.1 percent from a year ago. It continued to increase for the 13th consecutive month since February last year.
The total payment of job-seeking benefits gained 8.5 percent to 961.9 billion won (731.4 million U.S. dollars) in the cited month. ■
