Japan Feb jobless rate down, jobs availability at over 20-yr high

[JAPAN] The availability of jobs in Japan rose to the highest in more than 20 years and the jobless rate edged down in February, government data showed on Friday.

The jobs-to-applicants ratio rose to 1.15 from 1.14 in January, to reach the highest level since March 1992. The result matched the median forecast of economists polled by Reuters.

The number of new job offers fell 3.5 per cent in February from previous month but was up 1.7 per cent from a year earlier.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.5 per cent from 3.6 per cent in January, compared with the median estimate of 3.5 per cent.

REUTERS