Japan's university graduate employment rate remains at 98%

TOKYO - A total of 98.0 percent of new university graduates who sought jobs were employed as of April 1, the same rate as the previous year and the second highest level on record, the labor ministry said Friday.

The figure reflects the continued demand for students, with an official of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare saying the labor shortage is tied to factors such as the country's declining birthrate and greying population.