Job availability improved in April to its best level in four years and nine months, as some companies became willing to hire more workers in expectation of an economic recovery, helping to keep the unemployment rate relatively low at 4.1 percent, the government said Friday.

The ratio of employment offers to job seekers climbed for the second straight month to 0.89 in April from 0.86 the month before, meaning 89 positions were available for every 100 job seekers, according to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.

It was the highest level since July 2008, before the global financial crisis was triggered that September, the ministry said.