Japan's jobless rate held steady at 3.8 percent in December from the previous month, the government said Jan. 29, suggesting companies were willing to add labor despite uncertainty about the economy.

The December figure was better than the 3.9 percent rate forecast in a survey of economists.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said the total number of jobless was down 130,000 from last year, marking the 25th consecutive month of decline.