Japan Unemployment Lowest in 4 Years

Japan’s unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in March, its lowest level since November 2008, the government said Tuesday, as some companies increased female employment with hopes for economic recovery boosting business confidence.

The figure was in line with expectations by economists at private think tanks that the country’s jobless rate would improve for the first time in two months from 4.3 percent in February.

An official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, however, said the government will watch developments in the labor market as the number of male employed workers decreased in the reporting month.

Separate data showed Japan’s job availability improved, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The ratio of employment offers to seekers climbed to 0.86 in March from 0.85 in February, which means 86 positions were available for every 100 job seekers.

Some analysts said Tuesday’s data suggest Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic policies aimed at bolstering domestic demand and conquering Japan’s nearly two-decade-long deflation have gradually rippled through the real economy.

via Mainichi

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