TOKYO -- Japan's jobless rate stood at 2.9% in January, compared with 3.0% in December, the Statistics Bureau said Tuesday, as strong government spending underpinned the economy amid a coronavirus state of emergency imposed since early in the year.
The steady decline in the unemployment rate from 3.1% in October comes despite a coronavirus state of emergency imposed on Jan. 7. The gain was driven by a recovery in the health care sector -- one of the nation's largest employers along with retail -- as people started visiting hospitals and nursing facilities amid easing concerns about COVID-19.
