Japanese unemployment rate improves

Japan’s unemployment rate improved to 4.4% in May amid a gradual recovery from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters of a year ago.

The government’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications released data that showed jobless people totalled 2.97 million people in May, 170,000 fewer than the same month the previous year, to record on-year declines for two years straight.

The 4.4% unemployment rate declined 0.2% from April. Manufacturing, transportation, medical and welfare sectors all gained jobs.

Japan’s economy was battered by the disasters in the north east, which destroyed coastlines, disrupted supply chains and displaced people in evacuations due to leaking radiation. But some companies have bounced back.

Japan still faces enormous challenges to compete in a rapidly globalising economy.