Japan's seasonally adjusted jobless rate increased 0.2 percentage point to 5.4 percent in May, with the rate for women hitting a record high 5.3 percent, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications said Friday.
The overall jobless rate came close to the all-time high of 5.5 percent registered in December.
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi told a news conference that he recognizes the nation's employment situation "still remains severe."