Japaness jobless rate rise

Japan's unemployment rate rose to 5.2 percent in November from 5.1 percent in October, worsening for the first time in four months, the government said Friday. The latest rate was in line with the average market forecast. Figures released by the labour ministry showed there were 45 job offers for every 100 jobseekers in November, slightly up from 44 in the previous month. Many Japanese companies, particularly exporters, moved swiftly to cut jobs and production in response to a slump in demand caused by the global economic downturn, which triggered Japan's worst post-war recession.