Japan's unemployment rate hits 3-year high

NHK -- Dec 02

The unemployment rate in Japan hit a 3-year high in October. Officials say the coronavirus has driven the figure to 3.1 percent, the highest since May 2017.

The internal affairs ministry says the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate rose one tenth of a point from September.

It's the third straight month the figure has been in the 3 percent range.

The number of people out of work stood at just over 2 million. That number has risen for 9 straight months.

But job availability inched upwards too.

The ratio of openings to applicants rose a hundredth of a point to 1.04. That means there were 104 openings for every 100 people looking for work.

The labor ministry says that the employment situation remains serious because of the prolonged impact of the coronavirus.

Dec 02 (TBS NEWS) - 厚生労働省が発表した10月の有効求人倍率は1.04倍と、前の月から0.01ポイント上昇しました。 去年4月以来、18ヵ月ぶりに改善しました。 新型コロナウイルスの感染拡大で採用を控えていた企業の一部が、夏以降に、感染の状況が落ち着いたことを受け採用を再開したことが影響したとみられます。 一方、総務省が発表した10月の完全失業率は、前の月と比べて0.1ポイント高い3.1%で2ヵ月ぶりに悪化しました。