Japan's Nov. job availability hits 24-year high, but unemployment rate edges up

Job availability in Japan increased to its highest level in nearly 24 years in November as improving profits spurred companies to take on more staff, Japan's health ministry said Friday.

The ministry said that job availability rose to 1.25 in the recording month, its highest rate since early 1992, with 125 jobs available for every 100 eligible job seekers.

The unemployment rate in Japan in November, rose 0.2 percent on month, however, to 3.3 percent, marking the first rise in three months, the internal affairs ministry said separately Friday.

Those leaving their jobs of their own volition increased by 6.9 percent to 930,000 people, the data showed, with unemployed young people aged in the 25 to 34 range rising to 4.9 percent in November, the government report showed.

Manufacturers employed 1.8 percent more people in the recording month to 10.37 million workers, with a notable increase in the number of female workers, while the real estate industry saw employment rise by 10.4 percent to 1.27 million workers, the data showed.

Healthcare and welfare workers also increased, with figures in this sector up 2.4 percent to 7.98 million workers.

The total number of unemployed people rose 5.3 percent on a seasonally-adjusted basis to 2.17 million people, with the number of workers dropping 0.6 percent to 63.58 million.

The unemployment rate for men, the government said, edged up 0.1 percent to 3.5 percent, compared to a 0.4 percent rise for women at 3.1 percent, the data also showed. Enditem