In February, the number of unemployed persons (seasonally adjusted) fell slightly. According to original data, 48,278 people were unemployed at the end of February, 3.7% less than at the end of January. Year-on-year, unemployment was 2.9% lower, a similar decline to previous months. Amid labour shortages and the retirement of older employees, the number of long-term unemployed (those unemployed for more than one year) and unemployed over 55 fell year-on-year at the end of February, by 10.4% and 11.1% respectively. In contrast, the number of unemployed young people (aged 15–29) increased slightly year-on-year (3.8%) for the fifth month in a row.

At the beginning of the year, exports and imports of goods increased both month-on-month and year-on-year. After a decline in the fourth quarter of last year, real exports of goods rose by 2.1% month-on-month in January (seasonally adjusted). The increase, following a decline in the previous months, was mainly due to higher exports of road vehicles, which remained significantly lower than in the first half of last year. Exports of materials (e.g. metals and metal products) and primary products were also higher than in the previous months. Growth in exports of pharmaceuticals weakened compared to the previous months, but remained positive. On the import side (3.2% growth), imports of both consumer goods and intermediate goods rose, exceeding the level of the fourth quarter of last year (seasonally adjusted). Compared to January last year, exports rose by 2.7% and imports by 4.8%. 
Sentiment in export-oriented activities remained low in February, but was slightly higher than in the same period last year despite the high level of uncertainty in the international environment.