The unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in March, its lowest level since November 2008, the government said Tuesday, as some companies increased female employment in the hopes of an economic recovery boosting business confidence.

The figure was in line with expectations by economists at private think tanks that the jobless rate would improve for the first time in two months from 4.3 percent in February.

But an official at the Internal Affairs and Communications Minister said the government will watch developments in the labor market as the number of employed male workers decreased during the month.