ID :
37583
Sat, 12/27/2008 - 07:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/37583
The shortlink copeid
November jobless rate rises to 3.9% amid economic downturn+
TOKYO, Dec. 26 Kyodo - Japan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage point from October to 3.9 percent in November for the first increase in three months, as companies, notably automakers, began to lay off workers amid worsening economic
conditions, the government said Friday.
The number of those without jobs expanded 100,000 from a year earlier to 2.56
million. A separate report released the same day showed the ratio of job offers
to job seekers slipped 0.04 point for the 10th straight monthly drop to a
seasonally adjusted 0.76.
The ratio reported by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare hit its lowest
level in four years and nine months. It means there were 76 jobs available for
every 100 job seekers.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told a press conference the latest data
indicate ''very severe'' employment conditions in Japan. He pledged that the
government will try to swiftly enact budget bills to implement emergency
measures to support those who have lost their jobs.
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, which released the jobless
rate in a preliminary report, kept unchanged its basic assessment on employment
conditions, saying the situation in the future ''continues to require close
monitoring.''
An internal affairs ministry official said the ministry cannot clearly state at
this point that employment conditions have worsened, but that the government
should be on high alert for future developments.
Hideki Matsumura, senior economist at the Japan Research Institute, said that
although employment conditions had been basically worsening, an increase in the
number of people who stopped actively seeking jobs had pushed down the headline
jobless rate over the past few months.
The rise in the November jobless rate indicates ''accelerated deterioration in
employment situations among manufacturers and others,'' Matsumura said. He
projected that conditions will further worsen with a sharp fall in Japan's
production activities.
Referring to the biggest-ever drop in the nation's industrial output in
November from the previous month, Matsumura said more workers, mainly
non-regular ones, will lose their jobs. He expected that the jobless rate will
rise to around 5.0 percent in a year from now.
The November jobless rate was lower than the average market forecast of 4.0
percent in a Kyodo News survey.
The jobless rate for men stood at 4.1 percent in November, up 0.2 point from
October, and the rate for women gained 0.3 point to 3.8 percent.
The ratio of job offers to job seekers in the reporting month fell from 0.80 in
October. The outcome stayed below the average market projection of 0.77.
The number of job offers fell 2.3 percent from October while that of job
seekers grew 3.3 percent, the labor ministry said. Meanwhile, the number of new
job offers slipped 23.7 percent from a year before.
According to the internal affairs ministry, the number of jobholders decreased
420,000 from a year earlier to 63.91 million, down for the 10th consecutive
month.
The number of male jobholders totaled 37.21 million, down 260,000 from a year
before. The number of female workers slipped 170,000 to 26.69 million.
The number of people who were laid off increased 60,000 to 650,000, while the
number of those who voluntarily quit their jobs was unchanged at 940,000 from a
year earlier.
The number of people who started searching for jobs to supplement household
incomes climbed 40,000 to 350,000.
Among the jobless, the number of household heads expanded 100,000 from a year
earlier to 640,000, while the number of their spouses grew 50,000 to 330,000.
By industry, the number of jobholders fell 190,000 from a year before in the
manufacturing sector and 230,000 in the transportation sector.
By company size, the number of employees shrank in firms with less than 500
workers from year-earlier levels. The number of employees rose in companies
with staff of 500 or more, but the pace of increase has slowed, he added.
The results apparently underline the gap in business confidence between small
and large firms.
By working hours, employees who work fewer than 35 hours a week grew 29.1
percent from a year earlier to 20.68 million, while those who work more than
that decreased 10.6 percent to 41.89 million. The official said the number of
people who work shorter hours has been on the rise as they cannot land jobs
that require longer working hours.
==Kyodo
2008-12-26 23:27:27
conditions, the government said Friday.
The number of those without jobs expanded 100,000 from a year earlier to 2.56
million. A separate report released the same day showed the ratio of job offers
to job seekers slipped 0.04 point for the 10th straight monthly drop to a
seasonally adjusted 0.76.
The ratio reported by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare hit its lowest
level in four years and nine months. It means there were 76 jobs available for
every 100 job seekers.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told a press conference the latest data
indicate ''very severe'' employment conditions in Japan. He pledged that the
government will try to swiftly enact budget bills to implement emergency
measures to support those who have lost their jobs.
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, which released the jobless
rate in a preliminary report, kept unchanged its basic assessment on employment
conditions, saying the situation in the future ''continues to require close
monitoring.''
An internal affairs ministry official said the ministry cannot clearly state at
this point that employment conditions have worsened, but that the government
should be on high alert for future developments.
Hideki Matsumura, senior economist at the Japan Research Institute, said that
although employment conditions had been basically worsening, an increase in the
number of people who stopped actively seeking jobs had pushed down the headline
jobless rate over the past few months.
The rise in the November jobless rate indicates ''accelerated deterioration in
employment situations among manufacturers and others,'' Matsumura said. He
projected that conditions will further worsen with a sharp fall in Japan's
production activities.
Referring to the biggest-ever drop in the nation's industrial output in
November from the previous month, Matsumura said more workers, mainly
non-regular ones, will lose their jobs. He expected that the jobless rate will
rise to around 5.0 percent in a year from now.
The November jobless rate was lower than the average market forecast of 4.0
percent in a Kyodo News survey.
The jobless rate for men stood at 4.1 percent in November, up 0.2 point from
October, and the rate for women gained 0.3 point to 3.8 percent.
The ratio of job offers to job seekers in the reporting month fell from 0.80 in
October. The outcome stayed below the average market projection of 0.77.
The number of job offers fell 2.3 percent from October while that of job
seekers grew 3.3 percent, the labor ministry said. Meanwhile, the number of new
job offers slipped 23.7 percent from a year before.
According to the internal affairs ministry, the number of jobholders decreased
420,000 from a year earlier to 63.91 million, down for the 10th consecutive
month.
The number of male jobholders totaled 37.21 million, down 260,000 from a year
before. The number of female workers slipped 170,000 to 26.69 million.
The number of people who were laid off increased 60,000 to 650,000, while the
number of those who voluntarily quit their jobs was unchanged at 940,000 from a
year earlier.
The number of people who started searching for jobs to supplement household
incomes climbed 40,000 to 350,000.
Among the jobless, the number of household heads expanded 100,000 from a year
earlier to 640,000, while the number of their spouses grew 50,000 to 330,000.
By industry, the number of jobholders fell 190,000 from a year before in the
manufacturing sector and 230,000 in the transportation sector.
By company size, the number of employees shrank in firms with less than 500
workers from year-earlier levels. The number of employees rose in companies
with staff of 500 or more, but the pace of increase has slowed, he added.
The results apparently underline the gap in business confidence between small
and large firms.
By working hours, employees who work fewer than 35 hours a week grew 29.1
percent from a year earlier to 20.68 million, while those who work more than
that decreased 10.6 percent to 41.89 million. The official said the number of
people who work shorter hours has been on the rise as they cannot land jobs
that require longer working hours.
==Kyodo
2008-12-26 23:27:27
