Japan Jobless Rate Up In July As Workers Seek Better Conditions

Japan's unemployment rate rose to 2.7% in July, up from 2.5% in the previous month, marking the first deterioration in five months, as more workers left their jobs in search of improved working conditions, recent government data showed, Kyodo News reported.

Workers dissatisfied with their jobs tend to look for better opportunities after working for a particular employer for a couple of months.

The total number of employed people fell by 0.3% to a seasonally adjusted 67.66 million, while the number of unemployed individuals rose by 6.3% to 1.87 million, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

The number of people who quit their jobs increased by 70,000, or 9.5%, while those who were laid off decreased by 10,000, or 2.2%.

"More people have left their jobs to find better employment opportunities such as higher pay and more vacation time. We might be able to call it positive unemployment," a ministry official said.

"The labor market remains tight, so we don't think these people will remain unemployed for long.

"The official noted that the number of people quitting their jobs typically increases in July, three months after the beginning of Japan's fiscal year in April when new hires usually start.

Workers dissatisfied with their jobs tend to look for better opportunities after working for a particular employer for a couple of months, he added.

The search for better conditions comes as Japanese households are struggling with rising living costs due to the yen's weakness, which has inflated import prices, particularly for food and energy, Mainichi Japan also reported.