Japan posts 2.4 pct jobless rate in September

Japan's unemployment rate edged down to 2.4 percent in September from 2.5 percent in August amid persistent labor shortages, government data showed Friday.

The number of people with jobs rose by 340,000 from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted 68.68 million, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Of those out of work, 410,000 were let go by their employers, up 2.5 percent from August, while 680,000 quit their jobs voluntarily, down 16.0 percent.

The number of people newly looking for jobs grew 2.2 percent to 470,000, according to the ministry.

Separate data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare showed the job availability ratio in September ticked up 0.01 point from August to 1.19, meaning there were 119 job opportunities for every 100 jobseekers.

By industry, job openings fell from a year earlier in six of the 11 sectors, led by a 6.7 percent drop in living-related, personal and amusement services, followed by 6.3 percent declines in both the wholesale and retail service sector and the accommodation, eating and drinking services sector.

Among the five sectors that posted increases, manufacturing led with a rise of 8.2 percent, followed by information and communication at 5.9 percent.