TOKYO, March 2 (Reuters) - Japan's jobless rate fell in January and the availability of jobs also improved from the previous month, although there were still less than five jobs available for every 10 job seekers.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent from a revised 5.2 percent in December, government figures showed on Tuesday. The median forecast was 5.2 percent.
It is the first time since March last year that the jobless rate has fallen below 5 percent.
The jobs-to-applicants ratio rose to 0.46 from 0.43 in December. But the government revised down the readings for the past few months after revising seasonal adjustments.
The number of new job offers fell 1.1 percent in January from the previous month, the first fall in five months. It was down 13.4 percent from a year earlier.
(Reporting by Hideyuki Sano)
((hideyuki.sano@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3 6441 1827; Reuters Messaging: hideyuki.sano.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: JAPAN ECONOMY/JOBS (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent from a revised 5.2 percent in December, government figures showed on Tuesday. The median forecast was 5.2 percent.
It is the first time since March last year that the jobless rate has fallen below 5 percent.
The jobs-to-applicants ratio rose to 0.46 from 0.43 in December. But the government revised down the readings for the past few months after revising seasonal adjustments.
The number of new job offers fell 1.1 percent in January from the previous month, the first fall in five months. It was down 13.4 percent from a year earlier.
(Reporting by Hideyuki Sano)
((hideyuki.sano@thomsonreuters.com; +81 3 6441 1827; Reuters Messaging: hideyuki.sano.reuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: JAPAN ECONOMY/JOBS (If you have a query or comment on this story, send an email to news.feedback.asia@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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