Unemployment drops in Spain for the first time in eight months

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in Spain dropped slightly in April as employers hired short-term jobs for the Easter vacation period.

The Labor Ministry said the total dipped by 6,632 people to 4.74 million, the first decline in eight months.

Unemployment tends to fall in April as restaurants and hotels hire for the Easter vacation season. But this year the drop was very small, a reflection of Spain's second recession in three years. In April 2011, it fell by more than 64,000.

The overall jobless figure, which is released separately and quarterly, stands at 24.4 percent, or 5.6 million people.

This is higher than the number receiving benefits because many Spaniards' benefits have run out.