In the biggest drop in Spain for the month of December, the unemployment rate fell by 2.24%. There were an approximate 4.7 million people still out of work and looking. Some state officials took the drop to represent the beginning of recovery in the labor market caused by both policy changes and a recovering global economy. International analysts, however, are more cautious pointing to more vigorous than expected seasonal hiring for the gift-giving season, which in Spain lasts through the beginning of January. The drop of 107,570 people was the second biggest for any month since this measure has been used.
See "UPDATE 1 ? Spain?s December jobless rate sinks, recovery still muted", Reuters, January 2, 2014