— See Separate Table For Details of Individual Forecasts
TOKYO (MNI) – Japan’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is
forecast to have remained at 4.5% in December, unchanged from October
and November, while the ratio of job offers to seekers is seen improving
to 0.70 in December from 0.69 in the previous month, according to the
median forecast of analysts surveyed by Market News International.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications will release
the unemployment rate while the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
will release the ratio of job offers to seekers, both at 0830 JST on
Tuesday, Jan. 31 (2330 GMT Monday).
In December, the ratio of job offers to seekers, which is seen as a
coincident indicator of the economy, is expected to have posted the
highest figure since 0.70 marked in December 2008.
Economists said job conditions are improving, but its pace has
remained modest, amid some uncertain factors such as the strong yen and
European sovereign debt crisis.
Azusa Kato, economist at BNP Paribas, warned that jobless rate has
been in a declining trend, but that is caused by increases in workers
who have given up seeking jobs and have got out of labor market.
skodama@marketnews.com
** Market News International Tokyo Newsroom: 81-3-5403-4838 **
[TOPICS: M$J$$$,M$A$$$,MAJDS$]
