Japan Sees Increase in Unemployment Rate

(MENAFN) Japan’s unemployment rate edged higher in January, rising to 2.7 percent from 2.6 percent in December, government figures released Tuesday revealed. It marks the first increase in five months.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of employed individuals slipped 0.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted 68.17 million, also the first decline in five months. Meanwhile, the unemployed population grew 3.2 percent to 1.91 million, extending its rise for a second consecutive month.

Among those without work, 820,000 people left their jobs voluntarily—typically in pursuit of better conditions—representing a 7.9 percent increase. Another 450,000 were dismissed, unchanged from December, the ministry reported.

Separate figures from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showed Japan’s job availability ratio fell for the first time in three months, slipping 0.02 point to 1.18. That translates to 118 job openings for every 100 job seekers.

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