TOKYO, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Japan's job availability ratio in May dropped 0.02 point from the previous month to 1.24, falling for the first time in three months, government data showed Friday.
The latest nationwide job-to-applicant ratio means there were 124 jobs available for every 100 job seekers, as more workers sought better conditions amid persistent inflation, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
New job offers declined across most major sectors, with the hotel and restaurant sector falling 19.3 percent from a year earlier and wholesale and retail seeing an 11.1 percent drop.
Transportation and postal services was the only industry to log an increase, edging up 0.1 percent, representing a chronic shortage of truck and other drivers.
Meanwhile, separate data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed the country's unemployment rate in May remained unchanged for the third consecutive month at 2.5 percent. ■
