Japan's jobless rate climbed back to 4.7 percent in June, up 0.1 percentage point from May, the Management and Coordination Agency said Friday.

The number of unemployed fell 80,000, or 2.4 percent, from a year earlier to 3.21 million. Joblessness among men slipped by 120,000, or 5.8 percent, to 1.94 million, while unemployment among women increased by 40,000, or 3.3 percent, to 1.27 million.

Japan's unemployment rate improved in April and again in May after reaching a postwar record high of 4.9 percent in February and March.

"We cannot help but say that the jobless rate, at 4.7 percent, is still at a high level," an agency official reckoned, adding, "We will continue to watch the situation with care."

However, regarding the fresh data, Economic Planning Agency chief Taichi Sakaiya said he believes Japan's unemployment has bottomed out.

"The economy has continued to rise and recover, albeit in tough conditions. I assume the jobless situation has hit bottom for the present, with the ratio of job offers to job-seekers showing an improvement," Sakaiya told reporters after Friday's Cabinet meeting.

Separately, the Labor Ministry said Friday the ratio of job offers to job-seekers was at a seasonally adjusted 0.59 in June, up 0.03 point from May.

The ratio, an indicator of demand for labor, means 59 jobs were being offered for every 100 job-seekers during the month. The ratio was 0.56 in April and 0.53 in March.

Job offers in June strengthened 4.9 percent from May, while the number of job-seekers edged down 0.6 percent, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the agency said 65.03 million people were employed in June, down 160,000, or 0.2 percent, from a year before. There were 38.29 million male workers, down 160,000, while the number of female employees stayed flat at 26.74 million.

Of the total workforce, 6.52 million people were keen on changing jobs, up 200,000, or 3.2 percent, the agency said, noting 2.59 million of them were actively seeking new employment.

The number of people laid off in June fell 130,000 to 1.05 million, while the number of people who voluntarily left their jobs rose by 70,000 to 1.1 million.

For men, the jobless rate was highest between the ages of 15 and 24, at 10.5 percent, down 0.2 percentage point, and between the ages of 55 and 64, at 6.9 percent, down 0.1 point.

The 15-24 age band includes recent graduates seeking jobs, while the 55-64 age band includes those seeking work after retirement.

For women, the unemployment rate was highest among those between the ages of 15 and 24, at 8 percent, up 0.7 point, and between the ages of 25 and 34, at 6.4 percent, down 0.6 point.

By industry, workers in construction totaled 6.42 million, off 190,000, or 2.9 percent, and those at manufacturers came to 13.35 million, down 100,000, or 0.7 percent.

The number of workers increased in the transport and telecommunications sectors by 250,000, or 6.4 percent, to 4.15 million for the third straight month of growth. The number of workers also rose in the service sector by 420,000, or 2.5 percent, to 17.36 million for the fourth consecutive month of expansion.