TOKYO, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Japan's jobless rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 5.2 percent in July from 5.3 percent the previous month, dropping for the first time in six months, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said in a preliminary report on Friday.
According to the data the number of jobless people stood at 3. 31 million, down 28,000 from the same time a year earlier, as more jobs became available in the recording month.
Separately, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry reported Friday that the ratio of job offers to job seekers rose to 0.53 from a 0.52 a month earlier. The figure means that for every 100 people looking for work in July there were 53 available jobs.
62.71 million people were employed in the latest reporting month, up 10,000 from a year earlier, marking the first increase in 30 months and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications noted that the jobless rate for men and women had improved.
The rate for men stood at 5.5 percent, down 0.1 point, while that for women was 4.7 percent, down 0.2 point.
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