InsideJapan News Network

The unemployment rate in Japan fell from 5.1 per cent to five per cent during September – the third drop in three months.

According to the government figures, there has been growth within the manufacturing, welfare and medical job markets and this has helped to create new positions across the country.

However, the government did confirm that unemployment remains high and that it will continue to be cautious about the weakening economy as well as the potential slowdown within the output and export sectors.

Kyodo reports Hiromichi Shirakawa, chief economist at Credit Suisse in Japan, said: "The pace of improvement has slowed and there could even be a chance of deterioration starting as early as November or December."

Male unemployment increased to 5.5 per cent from 5.4 per cent, while the number of women without employment drpped from 4.6 per cent to 4.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, Japanese officials have approved a loan of £0.31 billion for the improvement and maintenance of roads in the Philippines.

Written by Mark Smith