The number of people on the Live Register fell by 4,220 to 164,660 in April, according to the Central Statistics Office.
The seasonally adjusted figure was down by 4,200 to 166,200, the lowest since December 2002, while the unemployment rate dropped to 4.4% from 4.6% in March.
There were falls in all regions, with the largest, 4.9%, coming in the south-west.
The numbers on the Live Register in April were 6,280 lower than in the same month last year.
