The nation's jobless rate stood at a near-record 5.4 percent in April, unchanged from March, reflecting continued bleak employment conditions, the government said Friday.

The number of unemployed increased by 100,000 from a year earlier to 3.85 million, the second straight monthly increase, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications said in a preliminary report.

The unemployment rate for men shrank 0.1 percentage point from the previous month to 5.6 percent, and that for women rose 0.3 point to 5.1 percent, the ministry said.