The government's report apparently contradicts recent signs of improvement in the economy, though officials downplayed the seriousness of the latest figures, calling it a "temporary" development associated with moves among some people to seek better jobs under the economic uptrend.

The margin of increase was the largest since August 1998, when the jobless rate rose 0.3 points to 4.4 percent. The unemployment rate in the reporting month was the highest since February's 5 percent.

The number of jobless people in July totaled 3.18 million, down 240,000 from a year earlier, marking a 14th straight monthly decline, the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry said.

The Japan Times Weekly: Sept. 4, 2004
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