Employment rate of university graduates in Japan hits 2nd highest in decades
A Japanese government survey shows that this year's employment rate of university graduates hit the second highest in nearly three decades.
The labor and education ministries surveyed a total of 6,250 students who graduated in March from 112 universities, colleges and other educational institutions.
The employment rate for university graduates as of April 1 was 98 percent. The figure was down 0.1 percentage point from a year before, when the highest employment rate since 1997 was recorded.
The rate for male university students was 97.6 percent, down 0.3 points year-on-year, while the rate for female university students rose 0.2 points to 98.5 percent.
The rates for graduates from colleges and technical colleges both declined by 0.4 points to 97 percent and 99.6 percent respectively.
The labor ministry says companies remain aggressive about hiring amid the labor shortage in Japan.
Labor minister Fukuoka Takamaro told reporters the latest employment figures indicate that a sellers' market continues.
He also said the government will continue to provide support at nationwide job placement offices for those who have graduated without finding employment.
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