Job openings ratio stays high in August: labor ministry

September 29, 2017

TOKYO- Japan's seasonally adjusted ratio of effective job openings to seekers stayed high at 1.52 in August, unchanged from the previous month, labor ministry data showed Friday.

Separately, the internal affairs ministry said that the country's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 2.8 percent in August, staying flat for the third straight month.

With the manufacturing and transport industries continuously facing labor shortages on the back of an economic recovery, the employment situation is "steadily improving," an official of the internal affairs ministry said.

The job openings ratio shows the number of jobs available to each job seeker registered at HelloWork public job placement offices nationwide.

In August, the number of effective job offers and that of job seekers both increased 0.5 percent.

New job offers grew markedly for electronics and electronic parts makers, including manufacturers of car navigation systems and smartphone-related devices. Sharp rises were also posted in the transport and postal services sector, where labor shortages have been serious due to the rapid spread of online shopping, and in the construction industry.

By prefecture where job offers were accepted, the job openings ratio was the highest in Tokyo and Fukui Prefecture, central Japan, standing at 2.10, respectively, and the lowest in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan, at 1.09.

For regular positions, the job openings ratio came to 1.01, unchanged from the previous month and topping 1.00 for the third straight month. Offers of such positions rose 0.6 percent and seekers increased 0.3 percent. Jiji Press