Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications revealed that the unemployment rate in April fell to 2.5%. This is the third straight month of decline as the labor market showed signs of recovery after Japan lifted measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, at the end of March.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.1% in April compared with March. It is thus at the same level as in March 2020.
While the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare revealed that the ratio of vacancies to job applicants rose for the fourth month in a row to 1.23.
The report states that the number of job openings increased especially in the accommodation and food service sector. Businesses rush to hire personnel before the long Golden Week holiday in early May.
Total unemployment in April fell 30,000 people from the previous month to 1.8 million people, the third straight month of decline.
Of these, 730,000 people resigned voluntarily, while 430,000 people were laid off, a decrease of 120,000 people from the previous month. The number of new job seekers remained stable at 460,000 persons compared to the previous month.
The number of employees in the accommodation and food sector increased by 100,000 people from the previous year to 3.7 million people, but the data for seasonal factors has not been revised.