Jobless rate rises to 4.4 percent
As the world’s second largest economy struggles to cope with the deepening economic crisis, Japan’s unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in February, up from 4.1 percent in January.
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AFP - Japanese unemployment rose to 4.4 percent in February, up from 4.1 percent the previous month, as firms cut jobs and close factories to cope with the deepening recession, the government said Tuesday.
The data came slightly above the average market forecast of 4.3 percent, but fell within the expectations ranging from 4.1 and 4.5 percent.
The number of those without jobs rose to 2.99 million people, up 330,000 from a year ago and marked four straight months of increase, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
Among men, jobless rates rose for all age groups, except for those aged 55 and older, while the rates rose for women of all ages, the ministry said.
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