Japan Aug Unemployment Rate Falls to 5.1% From 5.2% in July

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http://imarketnews.com/node/20124

Thursday, September 30, 2010 - 20:51

TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's unemployment rate fell to a four-month low of 5.1% in August from 5.2% in July, as the number of unemployed showed the second straight monthly drop, data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed Friday.

A gradual improvement in the labor market was also confirmed in year-on-year changes but the number of employed people fell 180,000 from August last year, posting the first y/y drop in two months after marking the first y/y rise in 30 months in July (+10,000).

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August matched analysts' median forecast as well as April's rate, drifting down from the recent high of 5.3% in June.