Japan's August jobless rate at 4.1%

Japan's unemployment rate rose to 4.1% in August from 3.8% the previous month, marking the first increase in six months, as more people began looking for jobs amid increasing signs of economic recovery, the government said on Tuesday. Separate data showed the nation's job availability improved for the sixth straight month, according to Japan's Kyodo News Agency. The ratio of employment offers to seekers climbed to 0.95 in August from 0.94 in July, meaning 95 positions were available for every 100 job seekers, according to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. It was the first time in three months that the seasonally adjusted jobless rate had hit the 4% level, the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said in a preliminary report.