Companies continued to face a severe labor shortage in September, with job availability remaining at historic highs, government data showed Tuesday.
The job-to-applicant ratio stood at 1.52, unchanged from August, meaning that 152 positions were available for every 100 job seekers. It remained at the highest level since February 1974, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said.
The unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.8 percent, as the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry maintained its official view that the employment situation is "steadily improving."