The number of jobless people receiving comprehensive social security assistance continues to fall, with 48,891 cases recorded last month, down 0.7% on January.

Last month also saw a drop in the share of such cases to the overall total, to 16.8% from 17% in January.

Figures from the Social Welfare Department revealed that the percentage share was the lowest since August last year, when a record-high 17.9% was seen.

There were 290,189 social security assistance cases last month, up 0.2% on January.

Cases involving people with low earnings went up most, by 2% from 13,627 cases in January to 13,897 last month.

Director of Social Welfare Paul Tang said the figure will neither go up nor down drastically in the near future. He also hoped the situation will improve under the current economic climate.