Japan's unemployment rate rose to 2.5% in August from 2.4%, while the seasonally adjusted job openings-to-applicants ratio remained at 1.18, according to data released on October 2. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said the number of employed people increased by 30,000 from the previous month to 68.34 million. Among people not working, 400,000 had been dismissed, up 5.3% from July, while 810,000 had left jobs voluntarily, an increase of 8% from the previous month. The number of people newly seeking work rose 2.2% to 460,000. Separate data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed 118 jobs were available for every 100 jobseekers. Job openings declined in eight of 11 sectors, led by accommodation and restaurant services and wholesale and retail, while manufacturing and information and communications recorded increases.