Nationwide job availability improved in May to the best in about 22 years as the unemployment rate fell to 3.5 percent, the lowest in more than 16 years, the government said Friday.
As companies became more willing to hire workers amid an uptick in the economy and a labor shortage, the ratio of job offers to job-seekers climbed for the 18th month straight, hitting 1.09 in May compared with 1.08 in April.
This means 109 positions were available for every 100 job- seekers, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said.