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Japan's jobless rate rose a seasonally adjusted 5.2 percent in May, the
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said in a report on Tuesday,
higher than a median market forecast of 5.0 percent and marking the third
straight month of rise.
According to the ministry's preliminary figures, there were 3. 47 million
jobless people in the recording month, on a par with figures revealed the same
time a year earlier, as the nation's employment landscape still remains
severe.
The number of job openings for those seeking employment improved in May, as
the ratio of job offers to job seekers went up to 0.50 from 0.48 in April,
beating economists' expectations for 0. 49 after several months at the record
low 0.48, according to a separate report released the same day by the Health,
Labor and Welfare Ministry.
The number of employed persons eased 0.7 percent on year to 62. 95 million
and analysts do not expect a lot of growth in employment or payrolls in over the
next few months because companies still carry excess labor.
Tuesday's result reflects a still-fragile recovery for the world's second
biggest economy, where an export boom has been slow to translate into sustained
improvements for workers and families.
A separate government report showed household spending in May fell a real 0.7
percent from a year earlier as incomes retreated. Average monthly household
income fell a real 2.4 percent from a year earlier to 421,413 yen (4,714 U.S.
dollars). |
