Job availability improved for a fifth consecutive month to a 43-year high while the unemployment rate remained unchanged in July, government data showed Tuesday, highlighting Japan's ongoing labor shortage issue.
The job availability rate rose to 1.52 positions per job seeker in July, up from 1.51 a month earlier, marking the highest level since February 1974, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
The jobless rate stood at 2.8 percent in July, unchanged from the previous month, according to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.