TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The unemployment rate in February stood at 4.7 pct, compared with 4.9 pct in January, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications said.
In February, male unemployment was 4.8 pct, down from 4.9 pct in January, while female unemployment rose to 4.5 pct from 4.8 pct in the previous month, it said.
The agency provided the following February data, with changes from a year earlier:
Jobless - 3.18 mln, down 90,000
Laid-off in month - 1.13 mln, down 30,000
Employed - 63.520 mln, up 410,000
Non-farm payroll - 53.16 mln, up 750,000
Part-time workers - 5.70 mln, up 570,000

January data, with changes from a year earlier:
Jobless - 3.17 mln, up 80,000
Laid-off in month - 990,000, down 20,000
Employed - 63.60 mln, up 50,000
Non-farm payroll - 53.22 mln, up 510,000
Part-time workers - 5.81 mln, up 710,000

Sectoral breakdown of February employment, with changes from a year earlier:
Agriculture, forestry - 2.32 mln, down 40,000
Manufacturing - 13.04 mln, up 40,000
Services - 17.67 mln, up 1.02 mln
Wholesale, retail, restaurant - 14.54 mln, down 160,000
Construction - 6.22 mln, down 230,000
Transport, telecoms - 4.01 mln, down 130,000