Japan jobless rate hits 25-yr low, labor shortages remain a concern

Japan's unemployment rate fell to the lowest level in more than 25 years in May in the latest sign of a strengthening economy, government data showed Friday, but rising job availability underscored the shortage of workers amid a shrinking population.The jobless rate stood at 2.2 percent, beating market forecasts to remain unchanged from 2.5 percent in April and hitting a low not seen since October 1992, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.The job openings-to-applicants ratio climbed to the highest level in more than 44 years, rising to 1.60 from 1.59 the previou…READ FULL ARTICLE