Japan’s Jobless Rate Hits Record 5.5%

Japan’s unemployment rate reached a new record high of 5.5% in November, the third straight month of record joblessness for a troubled economy hit hard by the global slump.

Government data showed that unemployment was especially a problem for men and heads of households as jobs evaporated in the traditional major industries of manufacturing and construction.

Japan has slipped into its third recession in a decade.

The number of unemployed people in Japan totaled 3.5 million in November, up by 410,000 people, or 13%, compared with the same month a year ago, the labor statistics office said.