Job availability reached the best level in over 24 years and the unemployment rate fell for the first time in two months in March, government data showed Thursday, signaling Japan's labor market remains tight.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, the job availability ratio, also known as the job openings to job seekers ratio, edged up slightly to 1.30 in March, the highest since December 1991. The figure means 130 positions were available for every 100 job seekers.
The jobless rate meanwhile fell to 3.2 percent from 3.3 percent in February, according to data released by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry.
"The employment situation remains on an improving trend," a government official said.
While the labor market has been improving, some analysts say the outlook remains uncertain because the economy lacks vigor.
The unemployment rate for men declined 0.2 point from the previous month to 3.4 percent, while the rate for women gained 0.2 point to 3.0 percent.
The number of unemployed people dropped a seasonally adjusted 2.3 percent to 2.11 million, but the number of workers fell 0.2 percent to 63.87 million.
The number of people who left jobs voluntarily stood at a seasonally adjusted 830,000.
By industry, the health care and welfare sector and the finance and insurance sector saw more workers than a year ago, but the manufacturing sector reported a marked decline.