Paula Bennett

Wellington, March 7 NZPA - The number of people receiving the Unemployment Benefit dropped by 4224 in February.

The number on benefits altogether reduced by 10,816 in the same month.

While the change reflected an annual cycle, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said the drop was the largest since the recession began.

"It's really pleasing to see 5595 young people came off a benefit in just the last month," Ms Bennett said.

Young people had got 3636 positions through the Government's Job Ops scheme and a further 2927 positions were filled through Community Max.

In the last week of February, 38 percent of people who came to Work and Income were placed in work instead of on benefits. More than 5000 new job vacancies were listed at Work and Income in February, as work brokers continued to engage with employers and actively identify opportunities, Ms Bennett said.

"While this is early days and the effects of the recession are still being felt; there is light at the end of the tunnel."