Japan's jobless rate was 5.2 percent in October, edging up 0.1 percentage point from the previous month.
The rise came despite recent signs of an emerging economic recovery centered on growing exports and rebounding corporate profits.
Data released Friday by the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry show that 3.43 million people were unemployed in October, down 190,000 from the same month a year ago.
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