The unemployment rate during the January-March quarter of 2023 eased to at least a five-quarter low. The rate had accelerated sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic as curbs were imposed to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. The rate for workers above 15 years has been slowing since the lifting of the curbs. In the October-December 2022 quarter, the rate was 7.2% similar to the rate in July-September 2022.