The unemployment rate fell to 2.3 percent in February, the lowest in nine months, as women who quit jobs to look for better work the previous month landed positions amid the tightest labor market in decades, government data showed Friday.

The jobless rate fell 0.2 point from January, after rising 0.1 point the previous month, according to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry. The unemployment level among women dropped 0.3 point from the previous month to 2.2 percent, while that for men was unchanged at 2.5 percent.

The job availability ratio stood at 1.63, staying flat from January, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said. The ratio means there were 163 openings for every 100 job seekers.