Japan's unemployment rate rose to 2.5 percent in August from 2.4 percent in July, the first increase in five months, the internal affairs ministry said. Officials said voluntary resignations were the main driver.
Japan's unemployment rate rose to 2.5 percent in August from 2.4 percent in July, the first deterioration in five months, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said Friday, Mainichi reported, citing Kyodo.
The number of people with jobs increased by 30,000 from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted 68.34 million. Among those not working, 810,000 had left jobs voluntarily, up 8.0 percent from July, while 400,000 had been dismissed, up 5.3 percent. New job seekers rose 2.2 percent to 460,000.
A ministry official said the job market was not in bad shape and that the rise in voluntary departures, often to seek better conditions, appeared to be the main driver. Over the past two years the rate has tended to rebound in the month after falling to 2.4 percent or lower, Mainichi reported.
Separate data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare kept the job-availability ratio unchanged at 1.18, or 118 openings per 100 seekers. Eight of 11 sectors had fewer openings, led by accommodation and restaurants, down 11.1 percent, and wholesale and retail, down 10.2 percent. Manufacturing openings rose 3.9 percent and information and communications 3.3 percent.
The figures cover August and were released as markets watch whether firmer voluntary turnover stays a sign of worker confidence or turns into weaker hiring.
People Sentiments Neutral
- A ministry official said the job market was not in bad shape and attributed the rise mainly to people quitting to seek better conditions.