Romania's unemployment rate grew to 7.3% in the fourth quarter of 2010, from 6.9% in the previous quarter, the country’s statistics institute INS said Monday.

However, the jobless rate was slightly lower compared with a rate of 7.5% in the fourth quarter of 2009, the statistics data showed.

According to the data, 714,000 men and women were unemployed in the fourth quarter of 2010. Male unemployment rate was 7.9%, while female unemployment reached 6.5%.

Romania's labor force in the analyzed period was estimated at 9.77 million people.

The figures are based on the definition recommended by the International Labor Organization (ILO).