TOKYO: Japan’s jobless rate hit its lowest level in four and a half years in June and the availability of jobs hit the highest in five years, boding well for the government’s efforts to revive the economy and end deflation.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.9 per cent from 4.1 per cent the month before, figures from the Internal Affairs Ministry showed on July 30. The result compared with economists’ median forecast of 4.0 per cent.

The jobs-to-applicants ratio rose to 0.92 – the highest level in five years. That compared with 0.90 in May and the median forecast of 0.91.

The number of new job offers rose 2.2 per cent in June from the previous month and was up 3.8 per cent from a year ago.

 (REUTERS)