TOKYO, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Japan's unemployment rate in May stayed unchanged from the previous month at 2.5 percent, government data showed Tuesday.

File photo: CGTN

The number of people with jobs ticked up 0.1 percent at a seasonally adjusted 68.82 million, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said.

Of those out of work in May, 400,000 people were let go, down 7.0 percent from April, while 740,000 quit voluntarily, down 6.3 percent.

Those newly seeking jobs increased by 4.1 percent to 510,000, suggesting that more people who were not previously in the job market were once again beginning to look for work, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, separate data showed that the average job availability ratio edged down 0.01 point from April to 1.17 in the reporting month, meaning there were 117 jobs available for every 100 jobseekers, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

By industry, new job openings fell across all 11 sectors, led by a 16.9 percent drop in living-related and personal services and amusement services and 16.8 percent in the wholesale and retail trade sector, the labor ministry said.